The sights and sounds of Coruscant seemed wholly new to her eyes now. Where once the sound of a group of men laughing sent a cold spike of apprehension to her chest, now it only held joviality and excitement. The music pouring from the alehouses onto the High Street seemed to goad her every step, eliciting a little bounce now and then. Commander Dameron seemed to notice this shift in her mood, for every so often he'd glance over his shoulder to offer a small smile, dark eyes shining with the authenticity of it. Rey could not believe this; could not even fathom what god or goddess had smiled upon her so.

The commander kept a brisk pace, no matter how Rey wished to ogle the renewed vision of the city around her. He seemed single-minded in his trek, which didn't come as so much of a surprise. Rey had come across plenty of Citadel soldiers before, though not always under the most… pleasant of circumstances.

Her life in Jakku had not been much different than what she'd suffered in Coruscant these few short weeks, the only difference being the unforgiving climate. As an orphan, Rey had never had a place to truly call "home". What meager shelter she'd reserved for herself didn't really qualify. And a life of subsisting on the profits of whatever scraps she could sell, no one would label fulfilling. Looking back now, Rey wondered why she'd ever thought leaving the damn place would turn her fortunes. What opportunity was there for an orphan in Coruscant that there was not in Jakku? The answer had shown itself rather quickly and with unforgiving malice.

None.

So then where was this mysterious, kind commander taking her? A cavernous pit seemed to open at her middle, dragging the joy she'd relished only moments before into its icy, shadowed depths. Her chest felt hollow as a myriad of questions torrented through her mind. Who really is this man? What are his intentions towards me? Where could he be taking me that I could not discover on my own?

On his next glance over his shoulder, Commander Dameron must have realized her sudden discomfort, for he stopped mid-stride and placed a gentle touch at her elbow. "Fear not, miss," he said, the words so soft and gentle she almost couldn't hear them over the bustle of the street. "I am not so blind to be ignorant of how some… soldiers..." He seemed to bite on the word, though whatever he'd been thinking remained unuttered. Dark eyes searched her face, making Rey squirm under the scrutiny, intensely aware of how his hand lingered near her side. "I mean only to help you," he continued. "There is yet something to be said for kindness, even in these uncertain days."

Rey mulled over his words. He seemed genuine enough, and, if his impassioned reprimand of the drunk at the pub was any indication, possessed great loyalty to the Premier of this city. What little Rey knew of her, there was enough evidence in this man's conviction.

Slowly, she inclined her head. She could take care of herself—had been doing so all her life—and the prospect of a roof over her head, even if only for the night, was too enticing. "You may proceed, Commander," she uttered quietly. He gave a tight nod and turned quickly to continue on their route.

All the way up the High Street and past the main barracks, a place Rey had never dared wander too close. She'd had little cause to trust authority over the years; she would not begin here. This late at night, the barracks were eerily quiet, causing her to wonder just what the commander had been doing at the pub at this hour. The question went unsaid as the road bent around a stone building, and the sight beyond stole Rey's breath away.

Just ahead, looming at the rise of a large hill, sat the Citadel in all it's shimmering glory. She'd only ever caught glimpses of it from her occasional walks by the river, but from here… from here, she could drink in the sight of the imposing building for what it truly was.

Magnificent.

"Isn't it?" Rey turned sharply towards the commander, not realizing she'd uttered the word allowed. He stood straight-backed, hands clasped behind him and gazing up with unadulterated pride.

"Are we… Are you taking me there?" She felt the air rush out of her lungs when he simply nodded, a playful smile on his lips. This couldn't possibly be happening. She couldn't possibly—

"I'm afraid, due to the lateness of the hour, I will have to set you up with Mrs Pava, the head Housekeeper. She will organize your lodgings for the evening."

Rey could feel her mouth hanging slightly open, but the words would not spring forth from her throat. It was all so much to take in. Where to begin?

"Th-thank you," she finally spat out, not really knowing what else to say.

Commander Dameron smiled and bowed his head slightly, motioning with his arm towards the gatehouse. "After you, m'lady," he said, his smile coloring his voice in a way Rey wasn't sure she'd ever heard from anyone before. Tentatively, she stepped towards the stone tower set before them which flanked a pair of massive, wrought-iron gates. Beyond the gates, Rey could see a sprawling courtyard, ringed by a walking path shaded by an intricate arcade. The stone edifice had been polished to a high gleam, reflecting the lights of the Citadel every which way so that the building itself seemed to glow. There was nothing like this in Jakku. Why would there be? Coruscant was the life-center of the entire country; the building in front of her was proof enough of that.

Inside the gatehouse, she saw a long, low table, various papers and minutiae littering its surface. The hologram screens seemed to show a shifting blueprint of some sort—Rey had to guess it was the interior of the Citadel itself—and a man in a uniform similar to the commander's sat hunched over one of the screens. At their entry, his eyes shifted up, immediately settling on Rey. His brow furrowed tightly and his eyes hardened, and Rey could feel that small voice at the back of her mind whispering for her to run.

"Commander Dameron," the other soldier said, his voice thick with his unspoken question.

"Admiral Statura," he answered back, that same easy smile upon his face. "I wonder if you might enlighten me as to the whereabouts of Mistress Pava. I have need of her."

The admiral glanced furtively between her and the commander for only a moment before shifting his eyes to the holoscreen before him. A few small taps on the screen and he returned his icy gaze to the pair of them. "It seems she and several members of the staff are in the Grand Hall, tidying up from this evening's state dinner. Don't you recall, Commander?"

If the admiral's words rankled him, Commander Dameron gave no outward indication. Rey watched in fascinated silence as the exchange unfolded. "Indeed I do, Admiral. I meant only to confirm before dragging our guest hither, thither, and yon in search of her."

"Guest," the admiral mumbled in barely concealed disgust, looking over at Rey. She was certain she looked frightful right now—hair a tangled mess and skirts muddy from too many nights spent in the rain—but this man's obvious distaste was something she'd never seen before. Did he think her a—?

"Yes, Admiral," the commander said shortly, interrupting her thoughts, "guest. I thank you for your assistance, and bid you goodnight." Commander Dameron snapped his heels together and sank into a deep, albeit tautly strung, bow. The admiral merely huffed at him before turning his attention back to the screens and the paperwork in front of him. Not one to wait for permission, it seemed, the commander turned quickly towards the opposite end of the gatehouse and strode away, leaving Rey to clamber after him. All the way out of the gatehouse, she could feel the icy spikes of the admiral's condemnation stabbing into her back. Was the commander… known for bringing young women back to the Citadel?

"You'll have to forgive him," the commander said, opening the iron-barred door to usher her into a long, narrow hallway. It closed with a resounding thud, echoing in her chest like some kind of warning bell. "The admiral is not known to be the most trusting individual, nor is he particularly fond of me. Try not to take it to heart." He shot her a sympathetic glance, which only served to send her blood rushing to her cheeks. What these men must think of her… Rey shuddered at the thought.

Mistress Pava had been exactly where the admiral had said she would be: directing a flurry of servants around a massive room, tidying up from what had clearly been a grand dinner. Rey could only keep her head down, all too aware of the curious gazes trained on her. For all that her duties required, Mistress Pava did not notice the two of them until the commander stepped purposefully in front of her.

"Oh!" she startled, dropping the holoscreen in her hands to her sides. "Commander Dameron, I didn't see you there." The woman was much younger than Rey thought she would be; she couldn't have been much older than Rey herself. How had one so young risen to such a position within the Citadel?

The commander gave her one of those dazzling smiles Rey had witnessed herself earlier in the evening. It was almost unsettling, the way that smile visibly disarmed the woman before them, who, only moments before, had been ordering servants about with an iron will. Now, she seemed as pliant as a schoolgirl.

"Mistress Pava," the commander began, his tone sweet as honey, "may I congratulate you on a splendid dinner this evening. I am not sure I've been so fortunate to witness such splendid meals and service in all my time at the Citadel."

A slight flush crept into the woman's face, coaxing a small smile out of Rey. It was conversations like these she so rarely got to witness. How she'd longed for the company of others, forced to survive on the street as an urchin. "You are too kind, Commander," Mistress Pava replied. Dark eyes sparkling, she turned her gaze to Rey, seemingly noticing her for the first time. "And who's this?" It did not escape Rey's notice the way she arched one brow and her tone turned icy.

"Miss Rey has found herself in somewhat of a predicament." The commander sounded unfazed, stepping slightly closer to the Head Housekeeper. "If you would be so willing, the Premier requests you find suitable lodging for the young lady for this evening."

Mistress Pava snapped her head back to the disarmingly handsome man that stood between them, causing Rey to flinch with the speed of her movement. But all traces of ice were suddenly gone from her features. "Premier Organa requests this directly?" she questioned with only the slightest disbelief.

Commander Dameron nodded sharply. "Sent me to find the girl herself." At that, Rey felt herself bristle. What in the blazes was he talking about?

Though she wanted very badly to call the commander out on his words, the shift in Mistress Pava's demeanor was undeniable. Where once there was ice, Rey now found herself faced with a warm smile and kind eyes. "I see," she said knowingly. "Well, as the Premier wishes. You'll come with me, girl."

"Thank you for your assistance, Mistress Pava," Commander Dameron crooned, gracefully swooping up her hand to place a chaste kiss on top. If the woman's face had been any redder, Rey would have mistook her for a Zeltron. He straightened back up and turned his warm gaze on Rey. "Rest well, Rey of Jakku. I will find you on the morrow." With nary another word, the commander turned swiftly and strode from the Great Hall, leaving Rey wondering after him. Burst into her world in a flash and now gone from it just as quickly. This couldn't be a dream, could it?

"This way, if you please," a voice cut through her thoughts. Rey turned to see the Head Housekeeper whispering something to an older man, dressed slightly better than the other servants around him. She beckoned Rey to follow after her with a flick of her wrist and moved towards a set of double doors set innocuously into the far wall. A few more curious glances followed her on her way, and she did her best to ignore them. What she wouldn't give for a cloaking device right about now.