AN: Thank you for all those reading. Hope this chapter finds you well. I apologize for the inconsistencies in updating. I hope to be better about that going forward.
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If anyone knew just how stubborn the Scavengers of Jakku could be it was Rey. And so she found herself tracking down scavengers as the went out in search for a good haul, talking to them about her plan as she assisted them in their work. Sure some thought she was trying to steal their haul for her own, and others thought she, of course, had an ulterior motive in not taking what would normally be her own share. But they listened as she talked about her plan to free them from Unkar Plutt and establishing a better way. Most had no clue as to who she was but after her own special brand of persistence, they listened. Some declined but thankfully most agreed to a liberation. Rey felt a sense of accomplishment among her own little rebellion, even if they hadn't completed their goal she was still shocked at how far they were. When none before had gotten this far, at least to her knowledge.
While Rey was excited about their liberation, she was also fearful. As part of the Resistance, she was a fighter, a cog in the machine. Here she was calling the shots. Here she was responsible if the plan fell apart if people died. Many would probably die in their plans, and she'd be responsible for each one. It made her more cautious and sneaky in her plans, and that fear pushed her further to take on more missions. She was returning from a mission to Carbon Ridge, cold night air ruffling her protective layers. Once she had been spotted as Rey of Jakku, she had to leave her old home and find a new place - one she could form the base of her rebellion. Carbon Ridge was the best choice, as Unkar would never mention it after his repeated failures. Yet, where he had failed Rey had succeeded. They had found the Imperial base hidden there and with some help, she had begun making weapons from the scraps left behind. Unkar would never give up Nima Outpost willingly, force would be needed to take it and her little rebellion would need every advantage it could get. That was her element, repairing broken things. She would've been happy to stay in the hidden base quietly working on those broken things. But she was needed elsewhere.
Quickly she found herself back in their humble hanger and jumped off her speeder. Removing her goggles she noticed an older man coming towards her "Rey did you get it?!" he called out in a rough yet excited voice as he moved quickly to walk beside her.
As they walked she skillfully removed her protective gear depositing it on a table as they walked down the metal hall. "Of course I did." With practiced ease she pulled out a small datapad from her pack, flashing it at the older man before hiding it away again. "It's time Alec." She spoke with an energy that only Rey could have. A strange savage yet childlike glee as she all but skipped down the hallway.
For his part, Alex stared incredulously at her as he followed her through the derelict base. He sighed and continued in a gruff annoyed voice "We've talked about this, we need to find-"
Rey deftly spun around with that same impish grin, gracefully walking backward. "The rations? The water?" patting her pack she continued "The plans to his bunker, the location of his stashes and the water. Even his off-world contacts. All right here. We got the Blobfish!" She pumped her fist in the air before entering a decrepit conference room, which the scavengers had fashioned as their base of operations for now.
Clapping a hand on the shoulder of a young woman who was tinkering with a blaster Rey smiled. "We got some good news, gather the others it's time to make some plans." Moving over to the main table to pull out the datapad in question along with a few other finds. Throwing a stray ration packet from her haul and tossing it into the pile.
The young woman for her part broke into a wide grin before sprinting out to gather the others. This was the break they needed, a big question had been where were the rations? and Where did he get them? Now they had the answers and Rey intended to take full advantage of it.
In a few short hours, those she trusted were surrounding the table discussing the data she had collected. What was once a simple scouting mission had turned into their biggest break. Rey had demanded that a scouting party be sent to confirm the intel, which would be easy enough as Scavengers are good at that. The only part that had them bickering or debating, depending on whom you asked, was the contacts. Rey leaned back arms crossed against the wall listening as the others had different plans on how best to use this particular data. Quietly she stood mulling over what her next actions should be.
Focusing so much on the matter at hand she hadn't noticed that subtle shift in the Force, and soon Kylo stood beside her. It was a few moments before she noticed the imposing figure of Kylo Ren in a set of relaxed sleeping attire - of course, it was black. Idly she wondered if he would look as good in dark blue as he did in black. Thankfully he interrupted her idle thoughts "Rey." He greeted in that deep timbre of his. Carefully she nodded and pointedly looked at her surroundings.
"Ah, you aren't alone." He mused clasping his hands behind his back, he mused at how often she was surrounded by others was in direct contrast with how often he was utterly alone.
Watching him change his stance fascinated her for a moment. Normally his stance would make him imposing even terrifying to a weaker mind, but now in his sleeping clothes, he was far from imposing. Instead, the stance only served to exaggerate his already large frame. For a moment she was caught between chuckling at how he seemed to be playing the part, and admiring the exposed skin of his arms and neck. Feeling that heat starting to creep in her chest she shuffled and refocused her attention on the conversation. And she would have succeeded in ignoring him had he not be so distracting - even though he simply stood stock-still. Clearing her throat she pushed off the wall and flung her arms to her sides "Let's take a few moments to gather ourselves and reconvene shortly." She spoke with authority trying to mimic the certainty the General had exuded among the Resistance. Only when she saw a few heads bob in agreement did she grab the datapad and moved to leave the room to find a secure location, eyes flitting back to make sure her dark partner followed her.
When they were finally alone she turned to him directly "Ben." She greeted with a sigh. She knew she wanted to ask his opinion, but should she? Should she trust the Supreme Leader? For a moment the fear she'd learned throughout her life came back. He must have noticed the change, she reasoned, as he relaxed his stance and those dark brown eyes seemed to take on a warmer gaze. Letting out a breath she had no idea she was holding, she went with her gut and trusted him again. "I found some information for freeing Jakku from Unkar and we are trying to figure out how best to use it." Starting there she explained carefully to not give too much information but enough to give a broad idea.
As Rey spoke Kylo for his part listened intently, crossing his arms he thought on her predicament. "It probably best for you to meet his contacts." He began thoughtfully "Stealing the contract out from under him would ensure your people aren't left without a way to get supplies. It'll be a tough sell. Any business person won't welcome a regime change, things get unstable when that happens." He explained and watched her take the information he swore he could almost see the gears turning in her mind about how to handle it, and that same meddlesome warmth came back.
The brunette nodded "I think that's going to be the best way forward." She sighed leaning onto her back foot and rubbing her neck "Now I just got to get the Crimson Dawn to take us seriously and agree with us, no big deal." A small smile broke at her half-hearted joke, which vanished when she looked back to his face.
He would have been happy to have helped had she not mentioned the contact's name, as fear gripped him tight and that warmth from before turned ice cold. "What did you say?" He whispered before his face morphed from shocked to enraged, fear playing out horrible fantasies in his mind of her meeting such a criminal organization. In a flash, he crowded her space all but growling "You aren't meeting with them."
Had this happened to any other person they would have flinched as he invaded their space, but this was Rey and she stood firm unafraid of the towering figure of rage. His voice came off yet again as a command, and she would have none of it. "You don't command me." She snarled at him brow furrowing to match his own.
His breathing came out harsh, teeth-baring against her blatant defiance. "Are you insane?!"
"Are you?!" She snarled back "You said it yourself this is the best play for my people."
Towering over her one would think that she would be the one in the more vulnerable position, instead, he was. There was nothing he could do. A shout ripped from his throat as he turned from her first. "You're insane." He snapped taking a few steps away from her, trying to quell the fear and the rage waring in his mind. He needed a clear head to convince her to not be a damn laser brain.
His shout didn't shock her, but the fear she'd seen in his eyes before he turned did. Waiting for a moment in the silence Rey watched him carefully. Tense shoulders, large hands balled into fists at his sides, the man seemed to almost be vibrating. One would assume with rage - especially as it was Kylo Ren. But Rey knew better, she'd seen him in the throes of his rage, no this was something else. This was fear, surrounding his mind. Taking a tentative step forward she spoke softly, curiously "Why are you afraid?"
At her simple question, Kylo froze, It was unnerving how easily she could read him. "I'm not afraid." came the defensive reply "I'm just annoyed at how stupid you're being, walking into a trap that could kill you." He sneered as he turned to face her
'So it's this game again.' She thought snidely before crossing her arms and cocking her eyebrow "Wouldn't it be better for you if I was dead?"
Saying the word aloud seemed to give his fear more power as it sparked his rage even further. Surging forward his large hands unfurled and gripped onto her tan shoulders with an intensity neither were expecting. "Don't you dare say that." He growled as he brought his face a mere hairsbreadth away from her own. Dark eyes wide watching her soft brown eyes, trying to imprint the way gold seemed to flare around the iris just like the sun.
Feeling the warmth from his bare hands was a shock to her, but the pressure was there and undeniable. Feeling the ragged puffs of breath on her face was new, holding her still. As he inspected her, she did the same watching worry widen his eyes. She swore she could see the darkness of his fear swirling in the depths of those eyes. "Then don't lie." She whispered, "Not to me." Gently she raised a hand to lay atop his own, the smooth skin feeling hot beneath her calloused hand.
Closing his eyes, his head bowed slightly. Of course, she knew he was afraid even if neither of them knew why. "Let someone else go." He whispered back nearly begging as his grip slightly lessened.
Following her instinct, she rested her forehead against his own taking the moment to memorize the smattering of marks on his face. "No." She whispered "This is my responsibility. I need to see it through." Quietly standing her ground, as she knew it was the right call. Feeling him tense again she continued "I'll go with a team, it'll be good to show them we can be a more stable option than that piece of scum."
Opening his eyes he kept his gaze on her slender throat, she was determined. Tense but not afraid, spry and ready to spar with him. She could handle this, just as she'd handled so much else. With that thought, the oppressive darkness of his fear began to slowly fade. Slowly he raised his eyes to meet her own "Select your team well." he whispered, a threat lingering in the back of his voice as he promised himself that should the Crimson Dawn go against her that he would rain fire down upon them.
Smirking she leaned back, patting his hand "Of course I will, my people are the best of Jakku." Pride tinting her voice as she spoke of her people. She relaxed as once again the tornado that was his fear and anger flew off like a summer's breeze.
A snort and nod was his response as he let his hands fall from her shoulders, trying not to focus on how it felt to hold them even for a moment. He stayed close as he calmed, worry still clouding his features. "You know they are slavers." He warned watching her closely. "It's likely part of their current deal is supplying or being supplied, slaves."
Disgust marred her features as she shook her head. "That's not going to be a part of our deal." She snapped, defiantly
Keeping his eyes on her Kylo shook his head "It doesn't work like that Rey." He spoke gently, as he knew - better than most - her abhorrence of one of the oldest businesses: slavery. She needed to see that this wouldn't work like the fantasy in her mind. She'd need to bend her morals, and her morals were so strong he worried she wouldn't bend but break instead.
"It will this time." Rey snapped back. "I'll make them see-"
"See what Rey? They don't care that it's vile or that willing people make better workers." Kylo snapped coldly, the horrid truth as harsh as any lash. "They only care about how it affects their money. Money and power are the only languages they speak, you go in there with your morals and good intentions and you might as well be speaking Huttenese to them." Standing he watched Rey wage a small war with the truth. Did he enjoy his role as the monster tearing away her dreams? No. But he was the monster and it was needed.
No one would notice the shift in her stance, signaling that voice of self-doubt of hopelessness was clawing at her mind. But of course Ben noticed, and she hated that he knew. Eyes cast to the ground she frantically scrambled in her mind trying to find some way to keep slavery out of the deal. It was her turn to bare her teeth in frustration. "Parts, people to repair those parts, grunts, and the pleasure hut that's all they use Jakku for," she spoke aloud trying to come to some solution "That's all the reasons they'll keep sending supplies." she murmured teeth worrying her bottom lip as she fretted over this.
Crossing his arms Kylo set his mind as well, there had to be a middle - or at least something close to the middle. And then it hit him, "A hiding place." he whispered, not even sure if this would be that extra bargaining chip but maybe, just maybe. Seeing her pace he slowly reached out an arm in front of her halting her movements, when she finally looked up at him and held his gaze that's when he spoke. "You have a base that can house your people right?" he asked ignoring the slight narrowing of her eyes before her nod. "Good, are there more places like your base on Jakku?" he asked.
Rey watched him warily, but at his mention of other places like her base, she relaxed. "I'm sure there are, we can find them." The gears continuing to turn "we could give them a place to hide. Anyone who comes to Jakku never wants to be found, and what better place to hide than in a place no one remembers."
"A commodity only the scavengers of Jakku could give, and only to be given with their help." He continued their line of thought
"Slaves will sell out their owners, but free people. People will die for their freedom, people won't talk to keep their freedom." While she finished formulating their bargaining chip. It wasn't as much of a shock when she felt the urge to embrace him, happy to have found a solution and happy for his help. She wondered if he felt the same urge or if it was only her. Instead, she nodded and said a simple quiet "Thanks"
Slowly the bond began to fade. Rey gave a simple wave of her hand, and with a perplexed expression, Kylo copied the movement just before they faded from one another.
The Supreme Leader stood there, dumbly, for a few moments before shaking himself out of the trance she had put him in. He needed at least some rest. Climbing into bed he thought of the way it seemed like she wanted to draw him close and of the way he seemed to call out for her to hold him. That fire grew, and that warmth helped to lull him into dreams of a certain young woman and the embrace that hadn't happened.