A/N: Thank you for the readership and reviews everyone! I've finished writing through chapter 50 now, so updates will be regular for awhile.

Chapter Thirteen: Struggle

"This really isn't necessary," Rey insisted, thrashing against the iron-like grip pinning her wrists at her back.

"Cease at once," Kylo ordered. "Or I will rob you of consciousness and carry you."

She sobered and stilled.

With a none-too-gentle shove, he continued their march toward the shuttle's empty crew quarters. They hadn't made much progress. The woman had decided buckling her body in a series of jabbed elbows and wild kicks while muttering obscenities was the best way to engender his favor.

Apparently.

She walked stiffly now, scanning every port, work station, and viewscreen they passed.

It's the threat of my hands on her that magically makes her compliant, is it? Kylo ground his teeth until a line appeared in his hidden jaw. He was careful to keep his thoughts guarded, shielding them after she'd picked out their destination and his intention to hide her from Supreme Leader Snoke from his head.

"I still don't understand," Rey groused. "Why go to all this trouble if you're just going to kill me?"

Kylo only responded by pushing her harder. She stumbled forward, teetering off balance, and his hold on her wrists turned to a pull as he prevented her from falling with an instinctive yank. Rey smashed back into his chest and loosed another oath.

Glaring over her shoulder in fury, she met his eye. "You're hurting me," she hissed.

"Imagine that," he intoned. "A creature in a mask not using reverence," he flung her description of him with as much accusation as he could muster.

"The same creature who's secreting me away from his own men for some unknown purpose."

"And who saved you from your own sabotage."

Curiosity cooled her anger. "Yes," Rey murmured, searching the lines of his helmet. "Exactly."

She poured her puzzlement into him, filling his skull with its foreign lilt. What are you doing? She asked. Really?

If he were a man prone to self-reflection and honesty, he would tell her he had absolutely no idea.

Instead, Kylo brought one of his hands pinning her arms up, taking her chin and whipping it forward. "What I want."