Glitter and Gold

Chapter 12

31 ABY – Outer Rim Territories

Despite all her protests and wishes, Vex wasn't dead. In fact, she was pregnant. Kylo was hovering over her at all moments, suffocating her with his care. His fears were well-founded. Vex's hysterical but justifiable feelings of dread and fear had followed her into the pregnancy.

This time, Kylo had convinced Snoke to allow him to stay close. He'd told the old man that Vex was not well enough to be left alone, that her hormones were running wild. It was a miracle that Snoke had allowed this, rather than simply assigning someone to watch Vex and sending Kylo on his way.

Apparently, they all thought her mad, unbalanced. Whatever, Vex would take advantage of this. She wasn't going to lose this baby. Not to Snoke. Not to anyone.

Vex was plotting her escape.

EV-9 was finally complete, rolling around at Vex's feet like a loyal friend. They'd been plotting the best way off the ship for weeks, as long as she'd been pregnant.

She knew her personal ship had been shifted from the Vexation since the larger ship was being repaired, putting the smaller craft in easier reach. She needed it to be stocked with fuel and food before she could go anywhere.

All of this was made very difficult by the fact that Vex was not allowed to leave her quarters unescorted. Kylo could do it. She knew this – he struck fear into the hearts and minds of just about everyone in the First Order. No one would question him for fear of his temper being turned onto them.

But she couldn't tell him. Kylo would never let her. He cared too much and he was selfish. Not to mention the fact that he would be severely punished for helping her escape. Vex didn't want that for him. So he couldn't know.

But, of course, he would walk right in as Vex whispered feverishly to EV-9 of their plans of escape. "Vex?" Kylo had asked, voice going high with alarm.

"Kylo," she sighed, getting to her feet.

"What are you doing?" he demanded, slamming his helmet down on a table. "Tell me you're not really thinking of escape, Vex. Tell me you're not that stupid!" Kylo said lowly, anger filling his expression.

"I know it's a long shot, Kylo, I know that. But I'm not going to stay and let Snoke kill another of our babies!" Vex shot back.

Kylo turned away, dragging a hand down his face. "I can't let you do this, Vex! If Snoke finds out, or you're caught… you no longer have the excuse of being a child," he warned.

Vex sighed, crossing the room to takes his hand in hers. He stilled, grasping it tightly. She moved in close, lifting on her toes to press her lips to his. He lingered eagerly in their kiss, free hand entwining in the hair behind her neck. She rested her forehead to his, fingers tracing along his jaw.

"Kylo, the only hope our child has to survive is getting away. If I don't leave, Snoke will kill it, and every time he does, a little piece of me dies too," Vex murmured.

"It kills me too," Kylo said softly in return.

Vex took his hand, guiding it down to her still flat belly. His hand pressed against her, his eyes closing. She knew he sought to feel the child growing within her. "If our child has any chance of living – of being born – I have to escape," she said.

"We'd never see each other again," Kylo said mournfully.

It was never a question of them escaping together. That was impossible. From afar, it was possible for Kylo Ren to protect Vex from being found. If they both escaped, there would be nothing to stop Snoke from hunting them down.

"This baby is more important," she insisted, cradling his face in her hands. "Kylo, I will die before I let Snoke near another of our babies," she warned, voice low and serious.

His eyes found hers, wounded and dripping tears. "What choice have you left me?" Kylo said, in a heartbroken tone.

Vex let out a cry of relief, dragging his face down to hers for a searing kiss. Kylo eagerly pressed down towards her, arms folding her closer.

"Out, EV," Vex said between kisses. The droid gave a disgruntled tweet, as she rolled out of the room.

Without the droid in the room, Kylo quickly tugged Vex into his arms, carrying her over to the bed. He draped himself over her, his hands and mouth utterly greedy, as if seeking to devour her whole. "I love you," he gasped.

Vex ran her hands up and down his sides. "I'm yours, Kylo. Take me," she pleaded, lips promptly covered by his. Clothing began to disappear in their haste, and soon the room filled with the sound of soft sighs and flesh meeting flesh.

/

In the last few weeks, Kylo had been setting the stage for Vex's escape. Every evening just before the shift change, he walked Vex down towards the hangar. They'd wander around, gawk at the Vexation and go on board and look at the ongoing renovations. EV-9 has been sent out every other night to take Vex's personal ship on short flights to keep it from rusting in disuse.

Tonight, Kylo would put Vex on that ship with EV-9 and send her out. It had to be timed perfectly, or they'd notice her craft wasn't returning from its short flight.

"Vex, it's time!" Kylo called from the outer room. He turned his attention down to EV-9 at his feet. "You go and do final checks on the ship. Try not to engage with anyone. Especially BB-9E. I know he gets on your nerves," he warned.

EV let out an indignant chirp. "I don't care if he starts it! Your duty is to keep Vex safe and get her off this ship! Avoid suspicion and get the ship ready!" Kylo ordered lowly. EV ran over his foot deliberately before leaving the room, not without throwing some choice words back at him. He rolled his eyes, leaning down to rub his foot. "Vex!" he called again.

She emerged from the bedroom, looking pale but determined. "Everything's ready?" she asked, stepping into Kylo's outstretched arms. She lay her head against his chest as his embrace tightened around her. This would be their only goodbye.

"At least two months of rations are on board. Ship's fueled up, tracker's deactivated. We just need to get you on the ship," he told her.

"Thank you," she whispered, feeling Kylo bury his face in her hair. He inhaled briefly before shifting to press his lips to hers. He kissed her like it was the end of times, like he'd never see her again.

"Don't thank me. Just keep our baby safe," he murmured, resting his forehead against hers.

"I will." Vex promised, kissing him once more before pulling away. "We have to go before it's too late," she pointed out. He agreed reluctantly, hand slipping into hers.

They left Vex's quarters for the last time, heading down to the hanger as they had every other night for the last few weeks. They went to the Vexation, talked to one of the engineers for a few minutes, and then circled towards her personal ship. EV-9 was inside.

No-one was looking at them. Their walks through the hangar no longer drew attention, and with Kylo there, no one wanted to look at them for fear of upsetting his temper. The shift was due to change in approximately six minutes, and Vex and EV-9 needed to be gone by then.

They paused before the ship, glancing around to make sure no-one was looking – and then they boarded. Vex quickly moved to the bunk, laying down there as Kylo fastened the belt around her. From his pocket, he drew a needle filled with an opaque, milky substance. "This will put you to sleep so that if they scan the ship as you leave, they won't sense your life signature. It will last less than an hour. You need to be out of the system by then," he explained, directing the last part at EV-9.

The droid tweeted out her understanding. "Thank you," Vex said again, reaching up to brush her fingers along Kylo's face. He gave a brief, half-hearted smile, leaning in to kiss her once more. At the same time, she felt a sharp prick in her arm. He drew away, pocketing the needle.

Vex swiftly began to fall under the drug's influence, eyes slotting shut. She felt a hand brush against her forehead. "It's up to you, now, EV-9," the deep voice said before Vex fell into blackness.

Kylo Ren emerged from the ship exactly two minutes after entering it, alone. He went to the control room above the hangar, where the technicians were readying for the shift's end. "I've sent Vex's ship for another flight. Her droid is aboard," he announced.

One of the technicians sat down in his seat again, sighing. Without bothering to scan the ship, he spoke into the microphone, clearing it to leave. Kylo Ren watched from there as the ship rose, and left the hangar. His hands curled into fists, and then he turned on his heel and left the control room just as the shift changed.

Hopefully they would not notice that Vex's ship hadn't returned for a long time. Kylo returned to his quarters in order to wait for Snoke to summon him.

Vex was gone, all his hope and happiness with her.

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