ughh guyssss I'm sorry I couldn't fit the wedding into this chapter (which is 15 pages long . )
It felt like too much to place it here. You guys deserve better than being rushed through the storyline.
On the plus side I am 12+ pages into the wedding chapter so yay? and since when are my chapters so long?
Thanks for reading and omg TROS comes out next week. MTFBWY fellow reylos.
Kylo POV/Rey POV.
"Execute them all."
Kylo Ren stands at the center of the command bridge facing a massive live hologram. Thirty-two high ranking First Order officials are being held and interrogated in the deepest confinements of his Flagship. Two of them are undeniably guilty, both active cohorts of Witt's foiled coup, and the rest are hard to read. His insubordinates report that the thirty remaining officials do not have confidence in Kylo's leadership abilities, but that is the extent of their disloyalty.
For Kylo Ren, it is enough. He considers their lack of faith in him treasonous.
If he were there, if he was torturing them, he would know beyond a doubt how deep their betrayal runs. As things currently stand, he is stretched too thin. Sentencing them all to death is the safest protocol.
Kylo is devoid of any expression as he watches the thirty-two individuals straining against the binders around their ankles and wrists. Thin wires creep out of the prison walls and are attached to each prisoners head, neck, and heart. They radiate fear, and Kylo's nose wrinkles in revulsion.
Pathetic. Have they no pride when facing death?
The bodies suddenly convulse, their faces contorting into something ugly and grotesque, and then they go still. For the most part. A twitch here, an arch of the back - the body's demise can be quite the process.
"When is the next interrogation scheduled?" Kylo asks in a dull tone. The officer to his left frantically swipes through his datapad.
"In precisely one hour, Supreme Leader."
"How many?"
"Forty."
Kylo lazily sweeps his hand through the air.
"Execute them. Everyone of them."
"Yes sir."
The First Order has legions of members, but very few ascend to the elite ranks. He risks sustaining heavy losses to his leadership if he continues issuing death sentences at this rate.
It is inconsequential.
Kylo's eyes shift perceptibly away from the holodeck, his focus turning to contemplation. He will restore the strength of the First Order, he can reestablish absolute loyalty. He can use Rey's image to his advantage. She is pleasant to look at, her disposition friendly and tender. Her smile is absolutely stunning.
Once the baby is born she will be undeniably maternal. Kylo holds steadfast to the belief that while Rey will never rule as his equal, he can make her the face of the First Order.
What is threatening about a mother and her child?
Nothing. Nothing at all.
It will be all too easy after he conquers and obliterates the Resistance. Yet it is the lie he fed to Rey in the bedroom that has been nagging at him. He is going to have to answer for it, eventually.
But then it dawns on Kylo. He is a genius.
He had not been looking forward to the moment when Rey realized there would be no ceasefire between the First Order and the Resistance. It would have been a substantial setback to their relationship after all the progress they had made. But - Kylo struggles fights down his excitement - there is another way.
The Resistance has a pulse, and that pulse is General Organa.
Rey can watch as he contacts the Resistance, as he contacts his mother, and requests a ceasefire. True, Leia Organa is no fool. She is not easily manipulated. She is so unlike Han Solo, the galaxy's biggest coward. She never would have survived this long if she was anything like his late father.
Kylo clears his throat, sucks in a breath, and ignores the guilt seeping into his core. He wants to dive into a darkness so deep that he will stop caring about Leia Organa altogether.
He will appeal to Leia Organa as though she is a grandmother. And she technically is one, isn't she? It must kill her that Rey is pregnant, that if Rey were still a part of the Resistance she would have a second chance at helping to raise her grandson. A chance to not make irreversible mistakes the way she did with him.
Yes, Rey can watch as he asks General Organa for a ceasefire in the name of peace for her grandson. General Organa is a devout believer in hope, and deep down she must hope that her son can rise above his darkness for his child.
It is the only way he will convince her to dismantle her weapons, to close down their bases across the galaxy, to relax her guard. The Resistance is strong, but they are nothing compared to the might of the First Order.
Still - Kylo is no idiot - he knows his mother will want him to provide proof he is serious. And he will. Partly.
He will make a show of retiring some of his ships, of pulling troops from planets that do not benefit the First Order anymore. He will even go as far as retiring the current Flagship. No one but Kylo and a select few know of the Sith Fortress on Rhelg. He has big plans.
Rhelg will become the new headquarters for the First Order. The surrounding planets will have weapon factories and produce endless amounts of ammunitions, ships, and soldiers. The Esstran sector is rich with ancient Sith worlds. Finally, Kylo can reach his full potential with the dark side of the Force. That, he thinks, is the key to securing the First Order as the only government system in the galaxy.
Most importantly, his precious possessions will be kept from harm: Rey and the baby will be safely sequestered away on Rhelg. His little family.
Kylo smiles.
He will wait for the perfect moment to strike the Resistance. When his mother's heart is soft with thoughts of her grandson; when for a split second she thinks her son has a heart.
It's not that he doesn't have a heart. He does. But it beats only for Rey and their son. It is time for his mother to answer for all the sins she has committed against him.
Rey will be none the wiser. By the time the Resistance is blown to smithereens she will be preoccupied with caring for the baby. Kylo plans on confining her to the world of babies and child-rearing. Doctor Veduta stated at the earliest it would be safe for Rey to conceive at one year postpartum.
What a crock of shit.
Kylo conducted his own research. In most cases women are cleared to have sex at six weeks postpartum, and he thinks that will be a good time to start trying to get Rey pregnant again. He even put in an order for a specialized medication, one usually reserved for couples facing infertility. That is not a problem for Rey and him, but the medication will cause her to ovulate multiple eggs.
Twins, even triplets, will keep her very distracted from the destruction of the Resistance.
There are details to consider, minor holes in his newly devised plot to patch up, but Kylo will address them later.
He walks slowly to the edge of the command center, gazing out into space. The fleet is here, he is preemptively purging First Order traitors, and he is practically fucking giddy at the thought of taking out the Resistance.
But first, he has a wedding to attend.
"Pull up the marriage license," Kylo orders while staring straight ahead. Footsteps scurry across the floor and the officer presents him with a datapad.
"I hope everything is to your satisfaction, sir."
Kylo delves into the marriage license. To him it is more than a document, it is a contract that gives him full ownership over Rey. Legal ownership. It will be recognized and honored in all parts of the galaxy ruled by the First Order.
The ceremony and legality of marriage matters to Kylo. Rey deserves respect and protection, and as her official husband he can provide that. He wants their union recorded in the archives, he wants history to remember that Rey was legally married to Supreme Leader Kylo Ren.
He hands over the datapad and turns to the officer.
"It is very satisfactory."
With a swish of his cloak, Kylo heads for his private quarters. The two women have been alone long enough, and he misses Rey.
When he reaches the corridor that leads to his chambers, he finds the guards standing at attention. They have nothing to report, and he senses nothing amiss.
Then Kylo opens the door, and what he sees inside stops him dead in his tracks. He turns to order the guards to stay outside, not wanting them to witness this. They do not need to see the state of his room. It is no chamber fit for the Supreme Leader. It is unrecognizable.
Every inch of it is a fucking nursery.
Rey is wearing one of his oversized tunics and his black socks that come up to her knees. Her hair is tied back into a messy bun, and he wonders if she dresses like this to torture him.
He watches as she uses the Force to finish adjusting a contraption with planets and moons dangling from multiple strings. It is one of four in the room but Kylo barely has time to register it - there is too much to take in. It is overwhelming, and cold sweat beads down his neck.
All First Order banners are covered with posters consisting of geometric shapes. And they - Kylo nearly loses it when he notices - they have removed all of his binders, ropes, and chains from the closet. Every inch of shelving is replaced with infant clothing and blankets. His restraints lay tossed unceremoniously on the floor in a heap.
And his mask - his fucking mask - has been placed over a stuffed animals head. One guess who came up with that idea, and Kylo pictures himself decapitating Tico. They think they can mock him without retaliation?
"Rey -" Kylo takes one step forward and stumbles on what appears to be an activity center for infants. He shakes it off his boot.
"Do you like it?" Rey throws a glance his way before returning her focus to the mobile, "Did you know that newborns prefer high contrast patterns to bright colors?"
That explains the black and white posters plastered over the First Order banners - plastered all over the fucking room. Kylo presses his lips together, he shakes his head. This is insanity. His quarters are in a state of baby mayhem.
"You placed my mask on a toy."
"Oh," Rey replies offhandedly, "I guess we did. Just trying to make space for everything."
Kylo attempts to compose himself, but his voice comes out strangled.
"Is he going to need all of this right away? It seems as though you unpacked..." Kylo surveys the bedroom again, "...everything."
Rey's gaze finds his and holds it. Her cheeks glow with perspiration and he realizes that she has been working hard to transform the bedroom. Kylo struggles to contain his anger. She has no business exerting herself after the scare with the baby.
"You need to rest, Rey," he nearly bellows, and then remembers it is a bad idea to yell at a pregnant woman.
Rey's nostrils flare, and it is his first warning that she is unhappy with his reaction.
"I had to unpack everything to figure out what we have. And I'd like you to put the swing together," Rey nods at a pile of parts in the corner of the room.
"What?"
"The swing. I would like you to assemble it."
The way she delegates him arouses Kylo's need to reassert his position over her. She has no right to order him around.
Kylo glowers at Tico as she folds clothes and thinks she is trying a little too hard to appear busy. He was right to presume that she would whisper poisonous words to Rey, encouraging her to rebel against him in small ways. Nothing but conflict arises between Rey and him when Rose is in their presence, and he itches for her execution date.
"That is what droids are for, Rey. They will assemble anything you want. Besides, you have months to prepare for the baby's arrival."
Rose breaks her silence by letting out a low whistle as Rey crosses the room. She comes right up to his chest, angling her head up to look at him.
If Kylo were not so annoyed he would find her indignation cute.
"I have months to prepare for the baby?"
"You do."
"No, Kylo. We have months to prepare for the baby. You want to be an involved father? Well, that starts before the baby is born. I'd like you, his father, to assemble the swing."
Kylo is silent, and carefully probes the Force to gage if her zeal is fueled by hormones. Rey folds her arms across her belly.
"Why are you so reluctant? You ordered all of this."
"I -" General Witt had ordered everything. Kylo clamps his mouth shut. "I did."
He watches Rey as she uncrosses her arms and drops them to her sides, her voice on the edge of exasperation.
"This is what having a child entails. You were the one in a rush to have a baby. I would like to enjoy the process of preparing for our son's arrival."
Kylo arches one dark brow.
"Is this enjoyable?" He asks quietly, "Yelling at me to construct infant furniture?"
"I - no," a puff of hot air, "But I sensed disgust when you walked in," Rey stops, mouth buckling, eyes wet. A phantom emergency siren sounds off in Kylo's brain.
Damage control, he has to do damage control.
Kylo realizes that the mother of his child is asking to spend time with him, to work on something together. Usually when they come together it is for one of two reasons: war or sex. They excel at both.
But this is something entirely different.
If her nesting rage is not motivated by an attempt to insult his masculinity and infantilize his chambers, then it is real.
Not wanting to appear petulant, Kylo opens the chamber doors.
"Escort Tico back to her cell," he barks at the officers. They hesitate in the doorway and Kylo's mouth curls into a snarl. He senses their bewilderment at the state of his room.
"Take the prisoner back to her cell," he spits out each word, and Rey lets out a small frustrated sigh as binders are locked onto Tico's wrists. She turns from Kylo as Rose is hastened away.
"Rey -"
"I still don't approve of how you treat Rose."
"I don't like Rose."
"You've made that very clear."
Kylo moves closer, resting his head against the back of Rey's shoulder. His hands land on her abdomen, and he startles when the baby kicks against his open palm. Rey jumps too, and her hands quickly cover his in response.
"He's strong. Was that his foot?
"I know he's strong. And yes, the baby is sideways right now."
There is irritation in Rey's voice, but Kylo is relieved when she doesn't try to push him away.
"Rey. I know you're upset with me," he murmurs as he kisses her temple, "But let me make it up to you. Please."
"How?"
"I want you present when I request a ceasefire."
"Cease - what? " Rey turns in his arms and faces him, blinking furiously to stave off the tears that he can sense welling up from inside her aching heart.
How unbearably familiar this feels to his deception in the forest. The thought causes Kylo's own heart to press tightly against his ribcage and he suddenly finds the room several degrees too warm. He can't let her emotional reaction unsettle him.
Kylo regards her cryptically, and no matter how hard she tries to decipher his expression, he keeps it schooled into nothingness. He bows his head in the direction of his desk.
"I want to contact the Resistance directly and request a ceasefire, as I promised. It is important that you are a part of it, Rey. General Organa might not believe me - but she will have faith in your word."
Rey stares, unable to speak.
"Come on then," Kylo opts for actions over words, and walks to his desk. Rey does not follow. Her feet remain frozen in place, disbelief filling the Force bond between them. Kylo begins the process of logging into the computer system - there is no indication that Rose sabotaged with it during her time here - and presses the comlink. His finger shakes as he does this, though he tells himself it is insignificant. An officer from the command bridge answers.
"Patch me through to the Resistance. Inform General Organa that I would like to speak with her privately."
"Very good sir."
Shock is etched into Rey's face and she still can't seem to move. It is as though she fears any speech or movement will change his mind. She fiddles with the sleeves of his tunic, sleeves so long they come down well past her hands. When she finally speaks, a broken sound escapes her throat.
"You're really - you're requesting a ceasefire? Now?"
"I am. And I can't do this without you."
To his horror, Kylo realizes he is speaking the truth. To face his mother is to face someone who knows him intimately in a way that he can never sever. She is the woman who carried and birthed him, just as Rey carries and will birth his son.
Kylo stares at the comlink and contemplates his situation with as much calm as he can muster. It is more than a challenge when his insides feel cramped and nervous knots of anxiety coil inside him.
"Rey?" He repeats, and she slowly pads across the room to stand at his side. Kylo's heart pounds as he prepares for the comlink to turn green, signaling his mother is on the other line.
His mother. Leia Organa.
He hates Leia Organa. Hates her.
Kylo repeats this sentiment over and over, willing it to be true. When the time comes to strike her down he will not fail. Not again. Not like he did in his interceptor during the battle with the Resistance all those years ago. She holds no power over him, not anymore.
His rousing self pep-talk fails and Kylo is humiliated to find himself embroiled in a state of internal conflict so profound that he might burst at the seams. He is a fool to think that lying to his mother will be a simple task, but he has to try. His future, his family's future, depends on it.
This time it is Rey who takes his hand and squeezes it.
"You can do this. For our son."
"Yes. For our son," he agrees faintly, unable to hold Rey's fierce gaze for long. The comlink turns green and Kylo decides to make this as brief as possible.
This is business. Nothing more.
"This is General Organa."
Kylo finds himself wishing he was wearing his mask. He wishes he could conceal any signs of vulnerability. She has always been able to see straight through him.
"General, this is Supreme Leader Kylo Ren -"
"I know who you are."
Kylo grinds his teeth together. Even now, she does not respect his authority or take him seriously. He quiets the outrage boiling in his blood at her interruption, at the absolute calm and assuredness in her voice. He tries to distance himself emotionally as much as possible.
"The First Order requests a ceasefire with the Resistance."
A long silence. Kylo continues.
"The First Order will not terminate its governance over the planetary systems it currently occupies. I will remain Supreme Leader."
Kylo leans over the comlink when Organa responds, desperate to know if she believes him.
"The terms of a potential ceasefire may be discussed on a neutral planet. But I am curious, what is your motivation?"
To his fury, she does not sound shocked or outwardly elated by his declaration. When she addresses him she is cool and detached. She is every inch the title she has earned: General.
Kylo's chest tightens. She is doing this on purpose to throw him off balance.
"I don't - Rey and I do not want our son born into a galaxy strife with war. I will not risk him dying, or his mother. That alone should be reason enough."
Kylo wants to dig into his mother's guilt. He wants to ask her if she wishes he had been born long after the war ended, and not so soon after. He wants to rub her lapses in judgement in her face, but he can't. It would make this too personal, and he does not want to call attention to those wounds right now.
Rey, who has been vibrating with apprehension throughout their exchange, bends over the comlink's mouthpiece before Kylo can stop her.
"Leia, the baby and I are healthy. Rose Tico is unharmed. Please tell us what we can do prove our appeal for a ceasefire is genuine."
Our. Us. We.
Rey is using inclusive language. She is on his side.
This is, without a doubt, one of the most bizarre experiences of his life.
Leia does not miss a beat.
"You can begin with releasing Rose Tico and all Resistance soldiers currently being held in captivity."
General Organa would ask that of him. Ever the humanitarian, Kylo thinks bitterly. He reminds himself that this is a long-term play.
"I am able to meet your terms after the wedding," Kylo states, "It is important to Rey that Tico attends the ceremony."
He adds the last bit to see if Rey will argue for Tico's freedom to be granted early. She doesn't.
"After the wedding," he says, "we will meet and discuss the ceasefire in detail."
Kylo should be used to this by now. Lying. Deception. But his heart hasn't stopped racing. The comlink crackles before Organa speaks.
"The Resistance will draft a ceasefire treaty. I expect you to do the same, and after your nuptials we will convene."
"Very well. Rey and I appreciate your willingness to…" Kylo searches for the right phrase to appeal to his mother's emotions, "...to protect your grandson."
"Protecting life is of utmost importance to Resistance," Organa responds.
The tinge of disappointment that runs through Kylo is unexpected. His mother's communication is direct, impersonal, and unemotional. She is hard to read and gives nothing away. What did he expect? Tears at the mention of her grandchild? A desperate plea begging him to reconcile?
Praise?
Of course not. Nothing he does is ever good enough for General Organa.
He has succeeded in keeping their conversation brief, but he finds the exchange woefully anticlimactic. He is a fool to expect anything more from her.
With a heavy sigh and shoulders slumped, Kylo readies to turn off the comlink when he hears his mother's voice once more. This time, her tone is warm and if he isn't mistaken, a bit shaky.
"This is a step in the right direction, Be -"
"Kylo Ren. It is still Kylo Ren, general," he cuts her off, frustrated that she thinks only Ben Solo is capable of virtuous deeds. Angry that she thinks she has the right to switch from detached to casual. Rey rubs his back, as though she senses how hard this is for him, and he marvels at her empathy.
"Kylo Ren," Organa says, "As a general, I view this as a step in the right direction. As your mother, I am proud of you for putting the well-being of others first. For setting your personal ambitions aside. We will be in touch. And Rey, it brings me unspeakable relief that you and the baby are well."
"Good-bye, general," Kylo disconnects the comlink, swallowing the lump in his dry throat.
He doesn't feel well. He needs to lie down.
Rey pulls at his arm, and he forces himself to look at her.
"Kylo," his name falls softly from Rey's lips, "I am - I'm proud of you too. I didn't think, not truly, that you would put our son first. That you would honor your word."
She slides her arms up to wrap around the back of his neck and pulls him into a kiss. Kylo puts a hand on her waist to steady himself. He kisses her back, slowly coaxing her mouth apart, their kisses lazy, deep, and languid. He could lose himself in her kiss, in her touch, and he wants to.
But he can't shake the sick feeling that starts to twist in his stomach. He isn't just lying to Rey and his mother. He is deceiving someone new: his son. Somehow, using his son's safety as a method of manipulation leaves a bad aftertaste in his mouth.
Kylo cuts the kiss short. He is being foolish again - of course he isn't betraying his son. He is working to build a better life for his family.
At the very least, Rey's affection means his plan is working. Yet he hates that it reveals what she still wants from him: surrendering to the Resistance. He brushes past her and briskly walks into the fresher, locking the door shut.
Kylo presses his forehead against the wall, holding onto it with all his strength. He can't stop the tremor running through him, the conflict raging in his mind. He is ashamed of his weakness, of the temptation to follow through on his promise to his mother, to Rey, to his son. The temptation of the Light.
This will all be worth it. It has to be. The Dark has gotten him this far, hasn't it?
"Kylo?" Rey knocks lightly, "Is everything alright?"
"A minute," he replies, shedding his pants and tunic. When he emerges from the fresher Rey stands in front of him, wide-eyed and worried.
"Talking to your mother must have been trying."
Kylo dips down and scoops her up into his arms. He carries her across the room to the bed.
"I'm fine," he sets her down gently, and settles in next to her, drawing her against his chest. He can't talk about Organa right now.
"I think she is happier than she let on."
"Rey. I said I'm fine."
"I think you and Leia are more alike -"
"Rey."
"Okay," she drops the subject, and nuzzles her head against a pillow. Before Kylo can say anything more, he hears the exhale of her breath and feels her muscles relax. She is out cold. Kylo rolls to lay flat on his back and finds himself staring directly at one of the infant mobiles.
He sighs.
His bedroom has been neutered. It is no longer his bedchamber. It belongs to the baby.
Weariness descends heavily on Kylo and his last train of thought is that everything will be better in the morning.
All traces of conflict clinging onto his conscience will be gone.
It is not the heartburn, aching joints, or incessant kicking on her bladder that wakes Rey up in the dead of night. It is not the fact that Kylo contacted his mother to request a ceasefire.
Rey knows all too well the extreme lengths he will go to in order to manipulate her into trusting him.
It is the raw conflict she senses, the sincere guilt that rushed through the Force as he lied to Leia that keeps her in a light, fitful state of sleep.
His guilt deepened when Leia praised him, when Rey comforted him, and when she echoed Leia's warm sentiments. Out of all the terrible lies he has fabricated, why does this one grate on his conscience?
Rey chews on her bottom lip. It was soft of her to touch him, to console him while he talked to Leia. He really does not deserve any of her emotional support - not after the way he mentally drives her to exhaustion. And she kissed him, by Force, she kissed him.
The kiss was a tactical decision. Kylo cannot doubt her so-called love for him. As Rey continues justifying her actions, the sinking sensation in her stomach confirms her fear: she still cares too much.
She always will.
But who is she, without her softness? Her kindness? Trying to heal Kylo Ren will break her, it will kill her, and she has to stop latching onto any sign of morality that peaks through his broken exterior. She is under no obligation to save a man who does not want saving.
These are not helpful questions to ponder. These are questions that will only delay her, and she hasn't got much time. She has to find a way to contact Leia.
Rey knows Kylo's mind, just as he knows hers. She knows he craves his mother's love and validation in spite of the hate he spews about his parents. As much as he would deny it, his bond with his mother will not be easily broken. Murdering his father destroyed him spiritually, and Rey does not think he would risk repeating the same trauma by killing Leia.
Would he?
She doesn't plan on finding out. Rey buckles down on her decision to warn the general. Rey needs to confirm that the Resistance will resume their plan of attack on her wedding day. She can no longer risk hoping he will do the right thing and Leia shouldn't either. Words and promises mean nothing to Kylo. His guilt never prevented him from hurting her.
If Kylo means to uphold his commitment to a ceasefire, he can request a ceasefire immediately the moment the Resistance arrives. She'll call his bluff.
Rey casts her eyes on Kylo. She pokes him, hard, and he does not move.
Well then, she's not the only one completely spent. Lightly placing her palms on his chest, she closes her eyes and concentrates. Their bond hums, and his conflict hits her even while he slumbers. Rey wills him into a deep sleep - not quite knocking him out - just drawing him down, down, deeper, and into a heavy dreamless sleep.
Content with the results, Rey sits up and pulls off Kylo's socks, replacing them with her leggings. She begins to slide off the mattress, her feet centimeters from the floor, when a large, calloused hand snaps out and pulls her back in a vice-like hold, tugging her to a shocking halt.
"Rey. What are you doing."
Force.
He is groggy and trying to blink himself awake, but she hears the note of suspicion in his voice. Rey peels his hand off her body.
"I need to walk," she replies truthfully, "My heartburn is keeping me up."
For a second she thinks he's fallen back asleep. It's quiet, and Rey peeks over her shoulder to see him staring at her with a creased brow. Her heart drops.
He is deliberating an idea, and she shudders to think what it could be.
"The doctor never could effectively treat your heartburn, could she? Let me take some of the pain away."
Confusion plays across her face, and Rey ungracefully sputters a response.
"You? But - how?" She sinks into the mattress with the depressing realization that contacting Leia will have to wait. Kylo is fully aware and awake now.
"The pain. Let me siphon some of the pain away - or all of it - it won't bother me."
Is he talking about Force healing? Borderline-hysterical laughter bubbles up inside Rey. Force healing is associated with the Jedi, with the Light.
Has he lost his mind?
"What if you make it worse?" Rey attempts to inch away but Kylo is already placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Tell me if it worsens and I'll stop."
"Fine."
Their bond opens, wide and unobstructed. Rey shuts her eyes and feels an imprint of darkness entering her own energy through the Force.
"Give into it, Rey," he mutters, and Rey tries to relax. She meditates, focusing on her body, her breathing, and on the Light. When she hears a hiss from Kylo she knows it is working. The suffocating burning sensation in her chest lessens to a barely detectable throb. She twists around to find a triumphant expression on Kylo's face.
"Have you done that before?" Rey inquires. They both know the real question she wants to ask: Did Ben Solo practice Force healing under Luke Skywalker's guidance?
Kylo runs a hand through his hair.
"No," he answers, retrieving an item from the floor using the Force. Something metal flies across the room and into his grasp. A pair of binders.
"You wouldn't dare."
"No?" He locks one cuff around her wrist, "You're a danger to yourself, Rey. You pushed yourself too hard preparing for the baby and -"
"I did not - "
"You did. And I won't have you sneaking off and finding trouble."
Rey's anger sparks within their bond.
"This is ridiculous," she removes the binder from her wrist and reigns in the impulse to chuck it at his face. Kylo effortlessly snaps it back on, and this time, he presses a series of buttons that circle around the binder's cuff.
"Do that again and an alarm will sound. I don't want to do this Rey, but you leave me no choice."
"You're unbelievable," she shouts, "If you wanted a submissive partner then you chose the wrong woman."
She watches, horrified, as he locks the second cusp around his own wrist.
"The Force chose you, Rey. The Force wills us to be together. And you certainly can be submissive - at times."
Kylo sends her images of their time together in bed, of her underneath him, of her whimpering as he touches her body.
Submissive in all the ways he likes.
"Get out of my head," Rey growls, shutting down his access to her mind.
"I'm only protecting you and the baby."
Fighting is useless, and Rey opts for the silent treatment. Any positive interaction they have, be it bonding over the baby or Force healing, is tainted by his toxic behavior. He is willing to physically attach himself to her body, and Rey knows that trying to flee Kylo will get ugly.
Very ugly.
The depth of his obsession for her, an obsession that he thinks is love, frightens Rey in a new way. It is vital that she locates her lightsaber before the wedding. Pregnant or not, she is sure that Kylo will resort to the worst kind of violence when he learns of her betrayal.