(Guys this gets more toxic. How he treats her isn't OK).
This starts with Rey's POV. I don't plan on writing her POV often but I think it's a good contrast maaaybeee?
*Triggers: toxic masculinity, sexism, controlling behavior/isolation.
I edited heavily on ao3 and I hope that doesn't impact how this chapter uploads. If it does I'll fix it. Thx for reading.
Rey stands completely clothed for a long time in the fresher.
She waits to see if he will come back when he thinks she is naked.
She does not want to see herself naked. She does not want to see the light streaks of blood on her underwear - tangible evidence that he was inside her. She does not want to think about the stickiness he left to dry between her legs.
It is humiliating proof that he exposed her desperate ache for Ben Solo. The Ben who kept her company on Ahch-To, who was tender in the elevator, who knows her deepest fears and dreams. The Ben who was always painfully honest with her.
He obliterates all of that by playing her for a fool.
He deceived her so successfully - in his arms he made her feel special and safe. Now she knows she is not special to him. She is a plaything, a tool, a source of entertainment.
Rey can't believe she was naive enough to never consider that it was all a ploy.
She feels like an idiot.
When the banging on the outside door subsides- food she assumes - Rey turns on the shower. Her muscles are sore and she stands despondent under the spray until her skin is pink. Her hands rest on her stomach as she concentrates. It is a small comfort that she feels no new life inside of her - she can not take that on top of his betrayal. It scares her to think his body is a weapon he can use against her in more ways than one.
Afterwards she aggressively rings out her clothing and watches dirt and grime swirl down the drain.
Rey does not care that her clothes are damp, she puts them on anyway.
She is not going to give him the satisfaction of wearing his clothing and smelling more like him than she already does.
The cool wet clothing feels good against her skin and Rey finds herself a bit unbalanced. Fatigue sets in and she wants to sleep - she wants to disappear and dream of nothing.
But she is afraid.
She is afraid of waking to find him standing over her, of waking to find him pinning her down into the mattress.
Fighting sleep proves impossible. Rest is necessary if she is going to muster the energy to escape.
She sinks onto the end of the bed, her eyes heavy as they shut.
"She refuses to respond sir. Forty-three minutes and counting."
One of Kylo Ren's senior officers appears annoyed that she is tasked with bringing sustenance to the scavenger.
A chore far below her station.
He sighs. Kylo needs Rey to eat, to stay nourished and healthy. To stay strong. It is obvious that the resistance provides for her more efficiently than she did for herself on Jakku. The way her body has filled out is proof of that. His hands recall how supple and tight she felt under his touch: her tiny waist followed by the curve of her hips that gave way to her bottom. When she is ready he will claim her there too. Every inch of her belongs to him.
This lust will be his undoing.
Kylo suddenly feels relief that Rey did not interact with the officer because, well, the officer is a woman.
He gave specific instructions for Rey to not be left alone with other females - human or otherwise. Why his orders are not heeded is unacceptable and someone will pay.
It does not matter how loyal his officers are. Women become too clever when left alone with each other. They gain each other's sympathies too easily.
Even ones within his own ranks. He will not risk it.
It's wrong, he knows - these attitudes towards them.
But they are dangerous creatures. Like Rey.
Too intelligent, too pretty, and too powerful.
It is not that he thinks women are useful only for a few things - they just need to be handled with caution and vigilance.
Kylo enters his bedroom with the intention of dragging Rey out from wherever she hides.
Even as he thinks this he knows he won't. Not if he finds her still regarding him like an enemy, a brute. The room is silent and he finds her curled up on his bed fast asleep.
She seems so young, so small.
He knows she still broods over their union. She is hung up on it, really. Pained that Ben Solo did not make love to her - that it was Kylo Ren who fucked her and she loved it.
Kylo remembers how hard she came.
He removes his cloak and tunic and considers scooting her closer to the middle of the mattress. He decides against it. The safer option is to leave her be, to let her sleep. The flagship is taking her far across the galaxy, out of orbit, and away from her friends. Stormtroopers gathered belongings from her home: clothing, books, and other personal items. If they pass inspection they will be brought to her.
Kylo wants Rey to know he cares about the details in her life.
Unfortunately the ransacking did not reveal any clues about resistance base locations and the other one called Rose managed to escape.
Kylo shakes his head.
Women. Too clever. Not to be trusted.
Rey stirs and he waits with bated breath for her reaction. Her eyes bulge as she wakes and remembers where she is.
She spots Kylo and bolts to the furthest corner of the room opposite him.
"Rey," Kylo sighs, exasperated. His steps are heavy as he moves towards her. "Where do you think you can run to?"
How can he make her understand? Make her feel better.
"Listen. Listen to me. I did this all for you. I can feel your self loathing - you need to stop. You're not stupid. You're not a fool. You are superior to me in every way. Sleeping with you..." her cheeks burn when he brings it up and he stops short.
He needs to tread carefully here.
"Sleeping with you was never a game to me. Never an amusement. You feel dirty and you shouldn't. How often do I need to remind you that Ben and Kylo are the same person?"
Rey chokes out a harsh laugh.
"If you have to ask you will never understand. You're incapable of it," she sounds sad and defeated.
An entitled primal urge manifests in Kylo. The need to prove her wrong.
"Let me kiss you."
Rey wordlessly backs up and shakes her head.
"Come on Rey. Let me remind you that you do feel for me."
It is not that he wants to pressure or intimidate her but he tires of these back and forth games.
Kylo cuts off her path by darting forward and corners her. His hand drifts to her hip and settles there before he pulls her closer.
Rey inhales sharply.
"Please don't," she whispers. "Please...please...don't," she shakes badly and Kylo steadies her.
It's not like Rey to beg.
Kylo does not like it. It does not become her.
His lips brush against hers soft and tentative - lingering long enough so that he inhales her breath and feels the warmth of her skin.
"You taste so sweet Rey," he murmurs before kissing her ear lobe. He then works his way down her neck to her collar bone before coming right back up for her lips.
"Just let me take care of you. Please."
Rey bites down on his bottom lip and draws blood.
"No."
Kylo strains to stop himself from rebuking her. She is not reciprocating his administrations - not even close - and it is beyond frustrating.
She stares at him like he is a stranger, a monster. He does not continue to push her out of fear that he might extinguish her fiery spirit more than he already has.
"Very well," he releases her and now he...he isn't sure what to do.
It took a year of meticulous plotting to get her here and she still finds a way to gain the upper hand. He cannot bring himself to fucking force her to submit.
Kylo's hands constrict into fists. He bends over and picks up a strand of stray rope from the floor. Without meeting her eyes he circles the rope around her wrists and ties the opposite end to the bed frame.
"I don't like having to do this," he admits, "but you leave me no choice. You're welcome to join me at any point. In the bed." He says this as if it is not obvious. Kylo lowers the lights and crawls into bed as silence envelops the room. He thinks she might be asleep when he hears her softly crying.
This angst, her sorrow, it cannot go on for much longer.
It just can't.
"Rey." Kylo hoists himself from the bed and sits down next to her. He uses a thumb to brush the tears from her face. She tries to twist away from him.
"Tomorrow will be better," he insists, "You will like where I'm taking you. I promise. I won't kiss or touch you again unless you want me to."
"I don't believe you."
Kylo sees nothing short of disgust on her face, almost hatred, as she reddens in defiance. He withdraws and leaves her on the floor. It is time to contemplate his next steps.
He intends to find a way to get her out of those rags she wears - they are simply not appropriate. Kylo thinks for this purpose he may need to relax his stance on Rey being around other women. For a short while, until they clean and dress her up. Comfort her in the way only women can.
He also intends to hold a private meeting with his Knights first thing in the morning. They need to be debriefed on how the scavenger will be treated, the authority she will come to hold within the First Order. Noncompliance will not be an option.
The flagship makes its way to the outer rim at lightspeed. There are a few planets he intends to subdue and Kylo wants her to watch the First Order in action with him at the helm as Supreme Leader.
Above all else Kylo must maintain control over himself and he must not underestimate her.
She is dejected and hurting, but she is a survivor. If he gives her any room to move - anything- he knows she will escape.
Kylo will not let this happen.