Rey was meditating in the forest on Ajan Kloss. Alone.
She needed some time to think and meditate.
But, then she noticed the telltale signs of the Bond starting to open: the noises of the forest became muffled and she felt another Force signature near her.
"Scavenger…" Kylo mumbled while Rey tried to ignore him. She started to mumble Luke's mantra.
I am one with the Force. The Force is with me.
I am one with the Force. The Force is with me.
I am one with the Force. The Force is with me.
I am one with the Force. The Force is with me.
"What?" Rey said angrily. It had been months since the bond last connected them. She spoke with anger to hide her sadness over their last face-to-face interaction in Snoke's throne room.
"What do you mean 'What?' " Kylo said, his voice even as ever. But she could feel his turbulent emotions. Anger. Self-loathing. Confidence. Power. And something oddly close to… peace? Calmness? …Comfort, even?
"You obviously want to tell me something! What is it?" Rey said sharply.
"Ah, I see…" Kylo said. Rey could just barely feel the cold, recycled air from whatever starship he was on. "Cold, Scavenger?"
"No," Rey said, lying through her teeth even though she was shivering.
"Rey…" She could tell he wasn't just joking around anymore.
"Kriff! What do you want?!" Rey demanded again, getting up and breathing heavily. She hadn't realized how close they were.
"Nothing, Scavenger. I think it's you that wants something." Rey could tell he was trying to see into her mind so she strengthened her mental shields. "So you tell me… what is it you want, Rey?"
"I don't want anything from you!" Rey shouted in his face. They both knew that he held all the cards.
"You do though. What is it? Where I am? What ship I am on? Maybe even wondering what if you had said 'yes' to my offer?" Kylo took off his glove, probably just to unnerve her and remind her of the words they had shared in the throne room. Rey closed her eyes and inhaled sharply.
He had hit it on the nose.
That was exactly what she was wondering almost every living, breathing, moment.
"I've wondered the same," Kylo admitted. Rey suppressed a shiver at his words and opened her eyes to look at him, straight on.
"I don't owe you anything."
"I know. Neither of us does." Kylo said quietly. "I could show you. What if you had accepted my offer? Taken my hand? What would it be like to be the supreme leader along with me?" She swallowed and gritted her teeth.
No matter how interesting he made it sound, she would say no at all costs.
"Will you though?" Kylo questioned, responding to her unspoken thoughts.
"Yes. I will."
"You know you want to… Just think about it, My Scavenger," Kylo whispered. Rey snatched his black leather glove from his hand before he disappeared.
She sat down on a log to regain her thoughts.
"Kriff!"
She was seething from her very bones at the thought of him
"Supreme leader. Who ever heard of that?" Rey mumbled to herself.
Wait… How do I have his glove?
Oh my gosh… I have his glove!
She heard footsteps coming through the forest. She felt a sudden rush of panic that someone might catch her and know whose glove she held. She was surprised when she saw General Organa.
"I see you've met with my son…"
"Ugh," Rey grunted quietly, annoyed that The Bond was no longer a secret.
"I could tell by your emotions. Don't worry, Rey. I don't know how you two are contacting each other. And no, I don't think you're a traitor." Leia said comfortingly. "Now come, lunch is ready." Rey saw Leia eyeing the glove, but she chose not to comment on it.
Rey and Leia walked back to base with Rey's thoughts still in a jumble. She could only think of one thing.
What if I had taken his hand?
What if I had taken his hand?
What if I had taken his hand?
