Chapter Nineteen: Resourceful

Rey had done more than simply find herself a coat. Kylo watched with increasing surprise as she picked up a variety of implements on their journey through the bunker, giving them cursory once-overs before either discarding or pocketing them. Her speed at locating value among spent utility was impressive—if one could be distinguished at sorting trash—and he watched surreptitiously, conscious his study would be noticed if she glanced his way.

But she did not. In fact, amid the lure of so many deserted tools, Kylo Ren found he had gone completely invisible.

Irritating, he frowned. I am a formidable enemy. She shouldn't ignore my threat simply to judge how much energy reserve a power coil contains from weight alone.

Their steps echoed in the cavernous halls of the bunker, and Kylo's frown deepened to a scowl as Rey slipped her third roll of bonding tape into her jacket, thumbing its pristine, unused end with a disapproving click of her tongue.

"What do you plan to do with that?" He snapped. He didn't much care – he was going to confiscate all of her little prizes before they returned to the ship anyway. She had skirted anything that could be quickly weaponized, but he figured given enough time, she'd craft something to bludgeon or immobilize him with.

Hazel eyes dropped to his arms, and Rey made a circular motion around one of her wrists, showing her desire to find a suitable means of restraining him.

Did her audacity ever falter? It was like she breathed brazen nerve instead of oxygen.

Bending to retrieve a forsaken carbon chisel from the ground, she held it close, turning it critically.

Is she doing this on purpose? He wondered. Surely, she knows she's being annoying. We're not here for souvenirs.

The corner of Rey's mouth lifted, and Kylo saw red.

She DOES know. Obnoxious BRAT.

He advanced toward her, swiping the chisel and casting it over a rail, vindicated as it banged and clattered its way down several levels. "Enough," he barked. "You're wasting time. We don't want to leave the shuttle unattended for long."

"Why?" Rey bristled as the tool gave a final thud, refusing to stare after it. "It'll take someone hours to break through the encrypted gateways you put into the computer."

Kylo stiffened. "How do you know about those?"

She rolled her eyes. "There were ships on Jakku, Ren."

Only Hux called him that, and the insufferable man managed to fill it with even more taunting contempt than she was trying for. "Don't call me that," he snapped.

"Why not? That's your name now, isn't it?"

Kylo's hands balled to fists. "You haven't earned the right to use it."

"Oh, it's such a privilege, huh?" Rey quipped. "A made-up moniker to match your mask?"

Now her scorn was rivalling Hux's.

Fury sparked his eyes. "Stop it, or you'll see how 'privileged' my fleeting favor has made you," he warned.

Rey drew her borrowed coat tighter around herself. "I don't want your favor," she said softly, the bite gone from her voice. "I'd rather die."

The overblown declaration cooled his anger. How naïve she was. How young. Death was a permanent end in a forgotten place. Kylo's next words held little gall and even less intent.

"Continue your mutterings and that can be arranged readily."

Rey seemed oblivious to how sheltered she sounded. "Oh look, another threat," she mocked. "I'm going to start a running tally."

Kylo didn't want to indulge this; he had no practice or patience with such infantile banter. Cracking a sneer, he doled the exact comeback to cut deep. "Like the one you used counting the days on Jakku?"

Rey paled, wincing as if he'd punched her in the stomach. He felt an uncharacteristic emotion flicker in his chest as the color fled from her face. It strengthened to a full-on flare as she fell silent, staring down at her feet in sudden dejection.

What was he feeling?

Regret?

Kriff that.

Impossible.