Athena's mind was restless. After their… encounter, she was sent back to her unadorned living quarters.
After seeing his angry, unhinged side earlier in the training room, she knew that he could be even more hateful and violent. Kylo was holding back. And then after the dinner, he had shown another side completely.
Frustrated, Athena went through multiple plans of action through her mind. Tomorrow, she was to spent time with Hux to work on the treaty. Deep down she knew it was still not granted that the outer rim would be spared. In a whim, Kylo Ren could just change his mind, execute her, and then use whatever weapon they had on whoever their wanted. Athena hated to feel so powerless. On the other hand, she seemed to have some value as his apprentice. And Hux was rather in favor of expanding their treaty to other neutral planets, as he understood the practical advantages it held.
As to their other moment… Athena was too smart to lose her senses over him. Yes, she felt a strong attraction to him, but it might as well just be another method to manipulate her. Kylo Ren was still the deadliest creature in the galaxy.
The next day, she woke up early to join the rigid stormtrooper physical training. The two hours were hard on her, as the training was making every muscle hurt. After a refreshment, she joined Hux and tree other officers, experts in law, war strategy and economy, to work on their treaty. After the draining training, Athena was happy to be doing something familiar.
The group mapped out all the systems in question, while Athena explained the different regimes on each planet. They discussed the location of resources. Athena noticed how the First Order officers were holding back information on what they needed exactly. They wanted to leave Athena in the dark. As reaction, she held back the placement of mines and gas-territories as well. The negotiations went on for a few hours. The First Order needed a lot of everything, clearly. And Athena needed to have enough leverage to motivate them to spare the outer rim systems from immanent destruction. General Hux turned out to be quite the strategist while showing not an ounce of mercy for the problems the inhabitants.
At last, she was sent to Kylo Ren's quarters. Athena was tired, but not unpleased with the results of her meeting. She wore militarist plain clothing, blending into the personnel of the ship. A few guards walked behind her, but she couldn't help but notice they didn't put up much security around her.
The young woman walked into Kylo's quarters, separated by a massive door. He had multiple rooms for his use, the first one resembling a lobby. The stormtrooper left, the doors closed behind her and with that she was left alone in the empty room. Kylo Ren was either letting her wait or planning to test her, she thought. Athena wouldn't let him read her mind so easily again.
After a couple of deep breaths, Athena imagined the library. Old wood, the scent of paper, the low lights of the electronic archives… the force run through her like a cool river, letting her come to peace.
"Your home planet?" Kylo Ren's voice drifted through her vision, as he was talking to her. Athena nodded.
Kylo Ren entered the room. He wore his usual black attire, without his armor and without the helmet. The knight didn't look any less intimidating without it, as his intense glance met hers.
"Your technique is mediocre. You need to keep up your guard," Kylo instructed. Athena nodded, bracing herself. With a strong blow, Kylo projected the Force against her. Athena tried to resist, stepping back to the wall. At the same time, she felt him reaching into her mind, trying to get past her vision of the old library. The woman could feel sweat form on her forehead.
"A little girl. Alone, rejected by everyone. Only a name to cling on, nothing else. She is helpless, useless. She can read all the book she wants," for once, Kylo's voice sounded almost melodic. As if he was singing to her, conjuring little storms in the calm river flowing through her.
"She is not helpless," Athena pushed out through gritted teeth, pushing back both the physical and mental attack. She fought as hard as she could. Yet she felt herself lose the vision of the library.
"Against me, she is," Kylo stated matter-of-factly. With that, her defense broke. Athena flew right into the wall, her back violently hitting the cold concrete. Instead of feeling the pain in her body, she felt a sharp pain in her mind.
"No, stop" she panted, as Kylo searched through her mind and memories. Tears filled her eyes. Athena felt angry, ashamed. She had failed to fight back. After a long painful couple of breaths, Kylo Ren released her.
"Disappointing," he spat at her, looking down at the woman crouched at the floor. Violet eyes stared right back at him, sparkling with tears she tried to hold back. With a light movement of his hand, he gave her the punishment he deemed fit.
Another attack bore into her mind, this time provoking an excruciating pain. Athena screamed in terror. Pressing her hands to her temples, she squirmed, still staring at her with hateful eyes.
As Kylo Ren ceased his torture, Athena caught back her breath, completely drenched in sweat and tears.
"You did not have to do that," she hissed, "I am not your plaything."
"This is part of your training, apprentice," Kylo mocked, turning around, and grabbing a glass from a small table next to him. He purred some golden liquid into it.
"I hate you," Athena scowled. Instead of the mannered, resolute young woman he had witnessed the last two days, he observed now hot anger displaying in her delicate features.
"You don't," the knight of Ren assessed coolly, walking towards her, and squatting down in front of her to offer her the drink. Kylo knew it was the truth. She didn't hate him, she hated to feel powerless.
"Drink," he commanded. The young countess shook her head in protest, still crouched on the floor.
"You will gain the power you seek. But it takes practice and sacrifice. You're lucky to be the apprentice of the most powerful man the galaxy has ever known," Kylo said softly, as talking to a wounded animal. Only to earn another one of her poisonous, hateful glances.
"Twice the pride, double the fall," she muttered. Athena stood up, leaving Kylo Ren on his level with the glass in his hand. As if nothing had happened, she stroked over her uniform and then over her hair and marched away from the wall, holding her chin up. She wasn't going to let him humiliate her more. Kylo Ren stood up in a swift movement.
"Do not speak to me like that or you will have the pleasure of more pain, apprentice," Kylo growled behind her.
"You tortured me. There was no necessity to do that. I am already cooperating. I am working with an organization that has massacred thousands of people just to save more people from being killed. I could join my fleet, my money, my alliances, and everything else under my control to the Resistance. But here I am, trying to negotiate peace while training with the grandchild of the man who killed my grandfather," Athena couldn't hold back.
"Do not pretend you're doing that for the good of the galaxy. You're trying to stay alive and come out on top of the situation. You're nothing but a cockroach," Kylo yelled at her, his anger ignited by her insolent words. Kylo's temper changed within seconds.
"Oh, my apologies. It must be incomprehensible to you why the rest of the galaxy is not just begging you to slaughter them all," she mocked, turning around to face him again with her arms crossed over her chest.
"I could destroy everything you hold dear," he threatened, closing the gap between them.
"And for what? You have no idea how to rule," every voice dripped with disdain. Athena did not flinch as he put his face right in front of hers. That arrogant little girl behaved like she was better than him.
"And you don't have the power to rule. Just like Count Dooku didn't."
"Then kill me already," the young woman growled furiously. With her chin up, her violet eyes darkening shimmering golden. "Just kill me," she repeated, challenging him. "I have not nothing much left to lose anyways."
Suddenly, Kylo's anger vanished. He let out a deep breath, calming down.
"Athena. You're too valuable to me to kill you," he explained. Athena raised her eyebrows at him, as she noticed him using her first name.
"Drink this," he urged her again. Athena hesitated, then took the glass out of his hand. She sipped at the liquid, expecting medicine. It wasn't. The strong alcohol burned in her throat. Kylo's words were the closest to an apology she could get, she thought.
The atmosphere grew more relaxed again. Athena worried about her display of temper, something she didn't usually do. It wasn't part of any tactic as it was simply pure impulse. In Kylo's eyes, she could see he was equally surprised of himself. Not many people yelled at him and lived to talk about it.
"I am sorry, Master," Athena muttered. "I overstepped," she added. If she was to hold up her end of the deal, she couldn't allow herself to be this hotheaded.
"Do not apologize for your rage. It is exactly what I expect of you," he uttered, still painfully close to her. If Athena moved only a few inches, she could lean in for a kiss. Athena looked at him under her eyelashes. Beyond all reason, she tested how far she could influence him.
"Tomorrow, I will present you to the First Order. You will receive the rank you deserve, Serenno," Kylo Ren announced, his eyes interlocked with hers.
Another training session with Kylo.
To answer your question: Yes, she's bi, although I don't think they have those labels in the Star War universe. Thank you so much for leaving a review!