Chapter 2: Bitter Pill

"Watch your language!"

The sound of his uncle's hand slapping the skin of his arm echoed through the studio porch. He cursed again, his eyes on the girl, as she attempted to cover up her laugh.

"I should tell your mother," Luke muttered.

"Go ahead," Kylo grumbled, noticing how the girl's expression changed slightly. There was a flicker of recognition, then interest. She was regarding him with a strange curiosity — part fear and part humor. There was an intensity in her eyes. He hadn't ever seen anyone look at him with such an intensity. Yet, he couldn't look away. He was too transfixed on her eyes. It was disconcerting.

"Classes don't start until after the holiday." His uncle explained. Kylo kept himself trained on the girl. She didn't break from him either. "I trust you will use the next few days to re-acclimate yourself with the place." The last statement was pointed at Kylo and he finally pulled his gaze away.

Kylo didn't reward his uncle's barb with a response. Instead, he brushed past him and the girl to enter the academy. The school appeared unchanged since his days there many years prior. He removed his designer sunglasses, tucking them into the collar of his shirt, as he stepped down onto the matted floor of the main studio. His reflection had changed. Everything else remained untouched, as if time itself hadn't passed here. The room held many memories — some good, some not.

His parents had sent him to live with his uncle when he was a teenager. He had been acting out at school, starting fights with the other students. When his mother had asked why, he had lied. Kylo hadn't wanted to admit it was because his classmates were aware he was the grandson of Anakin Skywalker, the fighter who had allegedly murdered his wife. Despite being proven innocent, the rumors still clung to his family.

It had been in his best interest to move to a different town, a different school district. That was what his mother had told him anyway. But later the same evening, he had heard her talking to his father. They had been discussing him and what to do with him. His father wanted to send him to a juvenile detention facility. His mother refused. She said it would look bad for her political career if he had to go there. Instead, they decided to send him to live with a relative he had only seen a hand full of times in his life.

Feeling betrayed, Kylo had spent the better part of the night researching his options online. Around 3am, running on fumes, he had stumbled across the answer.

He had asked to be emancipated.

Leia and Han had been against it. Surprisingly, his uncle had been the one to support his decision. It was only once they had to appear in court, Kylo spoke the truth. When he explained to the judge about how he had been bullied and mistreated due to his lineage, the mediator sided with him. He had, of course, thrown in some additional details about how he had lost himself due to the overwhelming nature of his legacy and how he felt he needed to make a clean break from his family in order to find himself.

Though he was a minor, the judge had approved the request. The court sealed his records and required his mother no longer pull him into the spotlight. In fact, he was to remain out of any political proceedings until such a time as he was (if ever) ready to be recognized as Ben Solo again. He moved in with his uncle the following day. It was his first step towards his new identity.

Luke hadn't been the most attentive guardian. During Kylo's first week of school, his uncle had forgotten to pack his lunch. Too embarrassed to tell the teacher, Kylo had ended up going hungry. The following month, Luke missed the parent/teacher conferences, which Kylo got blamed for. And so it went on. Eventually, his teachers gave up, not having enough patience or resources to devote to the troubled youth or his absent warden.

As with his previous school, Kylo kept to himself. He had never felt comfortable around those his own age. His interests differed greatly. Where he was attracted to traditional art forms, such as calligraphy and bone script, his classmates were more concerned about instant messaging and the latest album release. He didn't have anything to discuss with his peers. He enjoyed learning, even if the content was limited. He could easily find more entertaining material at the library to supplement the school's curriculum.

When he had turned seventeen, his uncle had allowed him to have his own space, renovating the space above the academy into an apartment. It became Kylo's sanctuary. If he had had any friends to invite over, he was sure they would have been jealous. There was a great amount of freedom associated with having his own place. The majority of his classmates were sneaking off to do things with their significant others. He had even caught a couple of the other martial arts' pupils playing a game of spin the bottle one night.

He had never cared about girls. They were a distraction. After witnessing his parents tumultuous relationship, he didn't see a reason to form lasting attachments. His uncle had never married and he seemed to be getting along fine. He had his own successful business, along with plenty of peace and quiet. Though, there were nights when Kylo caught him sitting on the large rock in the zen garden, watching the pond as if it was the most engrossing thing in the world.

And Kylo knew.

Luke was lonely.

Kylo had become more aware of how alone both his uncle and he were as he completed high school. His mother rarely called to check in anymore. They only saw her during the major holidays, when it was time for her to have a photo op. Kylo was never permitted to be in the pictures, since his story was to remain out of the papers. His father had stopped calling and visiting all together. He had disappointed them growing up, but he had assumed they would excited that he had graduated top of his class with multiple acceptance letters. In the end, his father had been traveling and his mother only stopped by his graduation for a quick hello, before she went off to a benefit. Luke had been the only one to stay with him.

So he had stayed with his uncle.

He had attended Berkeley. It was close enough to Tatooine he could commute. Kylo joined their UC Martial Arts program, while he double majored in history and philosophy. On top of continuing his training with Luke, he took all the available courses in Hearst Gym: Karate, Taekwondo, Jujitsu, and Wushu. Having additional instructors improved his technique and allowed him to enhance his own fighting style.

That was when the tides turned.

Luke began to evaluate him, often giving him the hardest critiques in class. He started assigning Kylo to the smaller studio to do self-meditation and practice. At first, Kylo assumed it was because he was too far advanced to be training with his peers. He had been excited, believing he had surpassed them. Eventually, he came to understand the true reason. His uncle saw his new style as dangerous and aggressive. When he confronted Kylo, after he had completed his undergrad degree, Kylo had lashed out, leaving Acho-To Academy and his uncle. He had gone home for the first time in years.

Only there wasn't a home to go back to.

His parents had moved from their previous address, once they separated. His father had been traveling so frequently, he no longer had a permanent address. He had a PO box. In his absence, Leia had downsized to an apartment in downtown Corellia, so she could be closer to her foundation.

Kylo hated Resistance. It was his mother's surrogate child, the one she had created once she had gotten rid of him. She had thrown herself into the work she did there, helping other people's children, saving them in the way she couldn't save him. It was the ultimate rejection. What mother didn't love her own child enough to be there for them when they were struggling? Apparently, his mother, because she not only dropped him off on the doorstep of a childless hermit, but then she ignored him in favor of helping everyone and anyone else on the planet who was struggling.

That was when he had met Anthony Snoke. The owner of the First Order had taken him under his wing. Being the only grandchild of the famous Anakin Skywalker had enticed Snoke. His fighting club had signed several big names at the time, building up their roster for future UFC events. He coaxed Kylo into joining them, praising his personal style, as well as promising him a lengthy career doing what he loved on his own terms. Kylo had immediately accepted.

Over the next six years, he had managed to become one of the most recognizable names in the MMA world. Undefeated, he had secured numerous endorsements, sponsorships, and even offers to appear in films. He had forgotten his former self, Ben Solo, changing his legal name to Kylo Ren, when he joined the First Order. He cut himself off from his parents and Luke, ending his relations with them as swiftly as he had changed names. Today was the first time he had returned.

"Excuse me."

The familiar British accent pulled him back to the present. Luke's protege was standing behind him, trying to get in the doorway with a spray bottle and a handful of rags. She had pulled her hair up into a high bun, revealing her slender neck and had removed her shoes. He saw her toes were painted a brilliant yellow-orange. The color of sunshine. Her namesake, he realized. Her eyes were on him with the same intensity as before.

Noticing him watching her, she said, "I'm on cleaning duty."

He stepped aside, allowing her to pass. She gave him a thank you and proceeded to kneel on the floor. Despite his sour attitude towards her, she didn't appear shaken or agitated. She wasn't intimidated by him at all. Usually people were afraid of him based on his stature alone. Even though he was a head taller than her, she held herself as though they were at the same level. She hummed to herself, spraying a thin layer of cleaner onto the mats, as she washed off the dirt and grime. He cringed inwardly, when she pulled away the rag to reveal a dark smear of filth.

Better her, than me, he thought.

Notwithstanding his objection for having her here, he found himself drawn to her. When he had seen her earlier, he had been struck by how light she was. Physically, she was small. She had a slim build and a musical voice. But she had a radiance about her, as if she as shining from the inside. Kylo had interacted with naturally happy people before. What this girl had was different. She hadn't been overly happy when he had met her. In fact, she had confronted him about his position in line. Her energy wasn't singularly happy. It was unusually pure.

And it made him nervous.

Shaking his head, he exited the room to find his uncle. He needed to distance himself from the girl and the unfamiliar feelings she was bringing up. Luke was just outside the studio, tidying up the waiting room area. When Kylo approached him, he waved toward the office. Clearly, he knew what to expect.

"What's she doing here?" Kylo asked, once the door was shut behind them.

"Who?"

"That girl," he hissed, annoyed he had to spell it out. His uncle was evidently going to make his next six months difficult.

"Rey?"

"I don't care what her name is. What is she doing here?"

"She's my new instructor," Luke sighed, taking a seat at his desk. "I thought I already explained."

There were papers all over the desk. It was organized chaos. It vexed Kylo. Every thing had a proper place and a proper purpose. His uncle's office needed order. If it had been his academy, he would have already sorted through all the forms, invoices, and bills. He'd have a system in place. It would be logical and consistent.

"What you haven't explained are her qualifications."

"I assessed her. She's more than adequate."

Kylo couldn't fight his uncle on that particular point. It angered him. Luke was still an expert martial artist, even if his style favored more of a defensive strategy than an offensive one. In Kylo's opinion, it was more prudent to have a strong offense. Life didn't play fair. Why should he? However, his uncle had studied a more traditional line of forms, focusing on self-defense and inner peace. He had stayed outside of the city for that very reason.

"Where is she from?"

"Jakku."

Kylo cursed. Venom seeped into his voice. Was his uncle serious? Jakku was the lowest of the low. It was a town barely marked on Google maps. Nothing had ever come out of there. No wonder she has no manners, he thought as he recalled how he had run into her earlier that morning. She was raised in a trash heap. Kylo had toured around the world as part of his training and competitions. Places like Jakku were all over, but they were all the same. The homes were trash. The businesses were trash. The people were trash. This girl wasn't worthy of being in his uncle's academy.

His uncle was leaning back in his seat, watching him with the signature Skywalker smirk. In the light, he appeared more like his former self, younger with a cheeky side. Kylo blinked and the smirk and cheekiness were gone. The boyish grin had been replaced by a stoic demeanor. His hands were folded neatly on his stomach, his eyes filled with unspoken words.

"I won't be around forever, Ben."

"Don't call me that."

"I will not address you as Kylo Ren."

He ignored his uncle's defiant retort, resisting the urge to punch a wall. He was fuming beyond control now, ready to strike the closest item in range. There was a lamp on the desk. It would make a satisfying crash if he knocked it off. His uncle sensed his wrath and continued in a calm tone.

"You're my nephew, Ben. I wanted to leave this to you, but you lost your way. I need someone to take over this place."

"This place belongs to me."

Luke fixed him with an indignant stare. "You left for the First Order. You abandoned your training here for what Snoke could offer you. You haven't been back since."

While nothing his uncle said was inaccurate, Kylo still felt jilted. He was not about to allow a girl off the street take his birth right. His grandfather's legacy had begun on these grounds. He'd be damned if some Jakku trash took it over. She probably didn't even know the first thing about martial arts. She was so small and bubbly with her little British accent and her brush of freckles. There wasn't a fighter underneath all her sunshine and rainbows. There was probably just a scared kid, searching for a hand out.

Joke's on you, he thought, cynically. This family is filled with monsters.

As if the scandals regarding his grandfather and parents weren't enough, Kylo had made his own splash. The estranged son of the state Senator had worked tirelessly for the past six years to separate himself from his family, only to be forced back into their lives now. It was ironic. The one place he had never wanted to see again was the one place he ended up.

Armitage Hux, his manager, had called the Senator the moment Kylo had gotten in over his head. His personal assistant Gwendoline Phasma had threatened to shove a sedative into his ass if he didn't quiet down. Apparently, his yells of protest were interrupting Hux's conversation, nearly convincing his mother to not bring in her team of high-paid lawyers to sweep the incident under the rug. Kylo couldn't have cared less. In his opinion, the wretch deserved what he got. But the federation disagreed.

He had been suspended for six months after attacking his competitor. It wasn't unusual behavior for him. He had a reputation in the MMA community for his unparalleled fury. It brought in a lot of press and even more fans, but it also created a whirlwind of paperwork for Hux and Phasma. The officials did not appreciate his outbursts. The federation had threatened him with suspension before. He hadn't believed they would follow through. When he had received his court summons, he realized his luck had run out.

The judge had been strict, providing him with two options. He was permitted to choose between them, with the caveat if he didn't complete either sentence fully, he'd be disqualified from any future scheduled fights and removed from the league permanently. He would have preferred jail time to teaching at his uncle's academy, however his manager wouldn't have it.

His sponsor and mentor, Anthony Snoke, did not approve of failure. In the end, the decision had been made for Kylo. He would serve the next six months at Ahch-To Academy teaching martial arts for free under his uncle's guidance. During those six months, he was to see a therapist weekly about his anger issues. He was also expected to have weekly check-ins with the federation on his progress. If he did not fulfill any of the requirements, he'd lose his titles and be removed from the MMA federation indefinitely.

It was a colossal mess.

"The academy is mine," Kylo insisted once more.

"Correction. It was yours. You decided to take a different path."

"So you're going to give it to that - that scrawny nobody! She could be a drifter or a con-artist for all you know."

Luke chuckled softly. "I doubt that. She is rather skilled and in need of a place to belong." He glanced at the door, as if expecting her to come barging in. If she did, Kylo would shatter more than a lamp. "I think this is a good fit for her and for me."

"Skilled," Kylo scoffed. "She's about as skilled as a-"

"And you know that how?"

He stalled. Kylo couldn't admit he was rude to her at Maz's coffehouse. It would only further Luke's resolve. Also, if Maz ever found out that he had treated a girl so rudely, he'd get an ear full from her. The old woman was less than half his size, but she was not to be taken lightly. She had watched him on occasion, even before he had come to live under Luke's care. She was a close friend of his parents. She had known Kylo since before he was born. It was a fact she often brought up when she was trying to guilt-trip him.

"I…I can tell by looking at her."

"You used to be a better liar."

His temper flared at the term. Luke knew how he felt about lies, how he hated them. He had been fed one after the other by his father. Han Solo had never been good with confrontation. He usually tried to sweet talk his way out of problems. Kylo had taken issue with it from an early age, having more intelligence than his father and able to outwit him before he was a teenager. Han's coping mechanism was to lie. At first, Kylo hadn't registered what was happening, truly believing his father was always traveling. Once he got wise to his father's act, he had shut him out. Someone like Han Solo didn't belong in his life.

"She doesn't belong here. This isn't her home."

"You've made it clear it isn't your home either," his uncle reminded him. "Why the sudden objection to someone else being here?"

"I don't like her."

"How very mature of you."

"What if she arrives to work late?" He tried a new tactic, less personal, more practical. "She doesn't look reliable."

"I doubt that will be a problem," he uncle chuckled. "I gave her the apartment upstairs."

"My apartment!"

"Last time I checked, I owned this building. Your name isn't on the mortgage."

"It was mine long before it was hers."

Luke raised an eyebrow at him. "Did you pay rent?"

Silence.

"Did you pay utilities?"

More silence.

"Did you work for me to compensate for living there?"

Even more silence.

"No? Then I don't see how it was ever yours."

"And you expect me to work with her?" Kylo scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"No. I expect you to cover your classes. She will cover hers."

Kylo shook his head. He had known these six months would be long and painful. He had expected his uncle to drudge up unpleasant memories, maybe even attempt to force him to have a conversation with his parents, but this was ridiculous. He was a professional athlete. He was a celebrity. He didn't need to put up with this. He considered called Hux to complain about unfair treatment or some such allegation to see if the judge would alter the terms of his suspension.

"You don't have to talk to her if you don't want." Luke continued. "But if you do, I expect you to be civil." Kylo rolled his eyes. "Or I will be in contact with the court about your suspension requirements."

At that, Kylo slammed his hands down on the desk, standing up. He was seething. His uncle had no right to act so righteous. He had been the one to push him away. To add insult to injury, Luke Skywalker was now taking in strays. This girl was a nobody. She was nothing. She wasn't at his level. She couldn't teach here. She wouldn't teach here. He would not have it.

"I don't want her here!" He swung his arm, knocking over the lamp. It had had it coming. He relished the sound of the glass shattering, as the metal clanked against the floor. Then, with another sweep, he shoved all the paperwork off the desk. The sheets lazily fluttered about before landing about the floor.

"Noted."

Kylo ground his teeth at his uncle's unperturbed tone. He started for the trophy shelf, when there was a light rapping on the door. "Master Luke?"

"Ah, Rey!" His uncle winked at him. The old man had the audacity to wink. "Please come in."

The girl entered, her face set. It was clear she had heard Kylo's explosion. "I'm done mopping up the floors in both the studios," she announced. "I'm expecting my friends around six. Would you like me to take care of anything else until then?"

"No, thank you, Rey. Why don't you enjoy the zen garden while I finished up with Ben? You can practice meditating. It will help you center your chi."

"My chi?"

Kylo groaned inwardly. What a novice. And his uncle had assessed her? In what exactly? How cute she could do up her hair or what nail polish she used on her toes? He wasn't sure why he noticed those things about her. Upon further inspection, he realized she was quite pretty. She had chestnut hair, which contrasted nicely with her light beige skin. She wasn't pale, but she was fairer than he expected someone from Jakku to be. Her eyes were distinctly hazel, with the flecks of gold and green becoming more exaggerated depending on her mood.

When she had snapped at him in the coffeehouse, the green had deepened. Now, as she regarded both men, the gold was boosted. Was she nervous? He saw her worry on her bottom lip. She wasn't wearing any makeup, so the natural pink flush of her lips was unaltered. They were the color of the bubble gum he had chewed as a child. Watching her chew on her own lip, while he thought of how he had chewed on the gum sent another strange feeling through his body. It was promptly followed by the image of him chewing on her lip. He shook it off.

She was becoming more irritating by the minute.

"Your chi is your life force," Luke explained. "It's an energy all living things have. For a fighter, it is crucial you learn to master your chi so you can build it up at important moments. It will assist you against an opponent."

Her eyes lit up with the information. It was clear she was eager to soak up an knowledge presented to her. She listened attentively to his words, as if he was telling her the secrets of the universe. Kylo found himself envious of how innocent she was. Hux called him a pessimist. It wasn't far from the truth. Since he had left Ahch-To, he had focused completely on his training with the First Order. He had wanted to please Snoke. Once he had won his first match, he had grown addicted to the power, to the rush of adrenaline he got when he beat his opponent in the ring. After that, nothing else had mattered but the next match and the next.

He had become fanatical.

Winning became more important than eating, than sleeping, than studying. He never finished his master's degree, dropping out of university to pursue his fighting career professionally. He started training all day, every day. As he rose in the ranks, Phasma was appointed as his personal assistant. He was given a nutritionist, trainers, and sponsorships. He wanted for nothing. It should have made him happy. However, he wasn't satisfied.

He continued training, continuing entering competition after competition, needing the win, needing the validation over and over again. Satisfaction was always out of his grasp. He had never been able to pin point why. He still couldn't.

"Chi circulation is important and meditation will help with it. When you are fully connected, you will be balanced. It will help you focus, keep your mind at ease. If your circulation is disrupted or blocked, like Ben, here," his uncle gestured to him, "you'll constantly be at odds with yourself."

"I told you not to call me that," Kylo spat.

"Isn't that your name?" The girl asked, genuinely, unaffected by his attitude.

"Not anymore. My name is Kylo Ren."

She laughed. It wasn't attractive. The noise started out as a bark, before she raised a hand to cover her mouth. Her eyes were full of merriment. He had wondered if she knew who he was. Now, he was positive she had no idea. That, or she wasn't very smart. Those who knew him, didn't cross him. His recent stunt was evidence why. Kylo eyed his uncle, who was trying not to laugh himself.

"I'm sorry," she tried to recover from her burst. "You're serious?"

"I am."

She hummed, as she took him in. For a brief moment, he considered telling her to stop staring. He hated how uncomfortable he felt under her gaze. He hadn't interacted with many women before. There hadn't been any time for it when training and those who trained with him were competition. They weren't available. There was something about this girl that got under his skin. He wanted her gone from his sight. Maybe a demonstration would scare her off. Kylo turned away, focusing again on the trophies.

Target acquired.

"I prefer Ben."

He deadpanned, all thoughts of destroying his uncles achievements vanishing. Before he could provide a comeback, she had walked off. She had gotten in the last word again. No one had opposed him since he had become Kylo Ren. Most were far too intimidated by his stature. Others were afraid of his angry outbursts. Even his opponents were cautious in how they approached him. He hadn't faced a real challenge in quite some time. He didn't know how to react.

She left him speechless.

How does she keep doing that?

Kylo spent the next several hours training in the main studio. Running through forms he knew like the back of his hand, he lost himself. The practice kept his mind off of the day's issues. Having to commute from the center city here each day would be a haul. Teaching untalented youth would be a nuisance. Dealing with his uncle would be undesirable. Having to put up with the Jakku girl would be-

"Almost done?"

Speak of the devil.

"Almost." he told her, while finishing his last form.

"I need to get these windows cleaned."

"No more meditation?"

"I don't like sitting still," she sighed. "Do you?" There was an eager curiosity in her voice, the same curiosity she had expressed in his uncle's office.

Kylo didn't offer her question a response. He couldn't be sure if she was teasing him or not. Instead, he proceeded to begin stretching. It was a practical way to cool down and release the built up tension in his muscles. He had a sneaking suspicion the tension wasn't from his meticulous drills. His stress was due to one particular individual. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her. She brought more cleaning supplies into the room.

She had been precise in disinfecting the matts. He couldn't recall the last time he had seen the floor spotless. Just because she could clean efficiently didn't mean she deserved to teach here, live here, or eventually inherit the place. His uncle had told him he hadn't divulged that last bit to Rey. Luke wanted to make sure she was happy here before he thrust the choice at her. Kylo dismissed his uncle's manners, using the hesitation as grounds for him to keep trying to obtain the place. It was supposed to be his. It should not be a contest.

But if it was. He'd win. He always won.

"So…" The girl obviously wasn't comfortable with silence. Or she didn't know when to quit."You're the mysterious Ben Solo?" He ground his teeth, remembering his uncle's request to remain civil. Thankfully, she wasn't looking at him. She was concentrating on the windows. It made it easier for him speak to her.

"Yes," he replied, curtly.

She gave a little snort, as she bent over the bucket to rise out the rag. "Well, you don't look like Gaga."

"Excuse me?"

"Lady Gaga," she elaborated. "My favorite rumor was you ran away to have a sex change and were reimagined as Stefani Germanotta."

"What?"

The girl shrugged. "Hey, whatever makes you happy. No judgement here." She went about washing the windows, as if she hadn't just compared him to a multi-platinum female artist.

He stared at her, incredulously. How dare she? Didn't she have any idea who he was? He was not feminine. He was brute strength and power. Any compassion had been driven out of him under Snoke's training regimen. His master had made certain he had the appropriate constitution for success. He was Kylo Ren. He was a champion, a recognizable face in the MMA industry. He would not be compared to a Madonna-wannabe.

A new thought occurred to him. Was she teasing him? Perhaps she was intentionally provoking him. If she was attempting to drive him out of the academy, she would lose. He was not going to leave. He was going to prove to his uncle this place was his birth right. In spite of his choice to distance himself from the Skywalker name after his family had turned their backs on him, he had always admired his grandfather. His obligation to return here gave him cause to take over the property.

He wasn't about to let some girl take it all away from him just because she was pretty. Kylo stopped himself. Why did it matter if she was pretty? Looks had nothing to do with this. Even if she was built of lean muscle and spunk. So what if she looked like sunshine personified and had the attitude to prove it? It didn't matter to him. It didn't matter one bit because she wasn't going to stay here. He was going to make sure he terrified her to the point she'd never return.

"Oh! They're here!" The Jakku girl cried, jumping around at the window and waving wildly.

Kylo watched a white Tesla Roadster park outside. Two men emerged. Both were of average height, though they were nearly a full head shorter than he was. The driver had tanned skin and black hair. He wore a wide smile, as the girl bounded outside to greet them. He swept her up in his arms, effortlessly. Boyfriend, Kylo assumed, until he saw how her face lit up at the second man. The darker skinned man picked her up, twirling her around, while they both laughed like children. Her smile grew, causing dimples to appear. Ok, so he was it. He was her boyfriend.

He wasn't surprised a girl as attractive as her had someone. She probably had a entire city block full of friends. She had weaseled her way into his uncle's good graces easily enough. And the barista at Maz's had taken an immediate liking to her. Kylo found himself envious of how personable she was. He decided it was her light, the curious aura she wore around herself, that charmed those around her. It was a sharp contrast to his own dark demons.

Against his better judgement, he stayed by the window, observing her interactions with the men. The one he labeled her boyfriend called her 'Peanut.' Kylo felt like gagging. Pet names were sickening. He never understood why people needed to discount their original names for the use of such droll endearments. Then he was reminded at how the girl had laughed at his chosen name. He frowned.

Choosing his name had been about distinguishing himself as an individual. His mother had named him Ben after an old family friend. The same friend who had once trained his grandfather. It was tied to the Skywalker legacy. Solo was tied to his father's smuggling legacy. There was too much recognition associated with either surname. Kylo had wanted nothing to do with either. He had created the name Kylo Ren after one night of grueling training. Back at his apartment, he had pulled out his old calligraphy set, working on drawing out ancient Chinese characters, until the name appeared before him. He had filed for the legal change not long after.

Focusing back on the girl, he saw she was still in the second man's arms. She was talking away, her hands gesturing as she spoke. His attention was on her completely and both were smiling. Unconsciously, Kylo began curl his right hand into a fist at his side. He didn't like how close she was with the two. She needed to be with someone better, someone stronger. Me. The second he thought it, he backed up from the window. She wasn't just under his skin. She was getting into his head. He had to do something about her.

Now.

Heading out back to the zen garden, he retrieved his cell. Phasma picked up after the second ring. "Sir?"

"Phasma, I need you to get me a full background on one Rey Niima, originally from Jakku, California."

"Yes, sir. I'll have it for you first thing in the morning."

"Excellent."

"Anything else, sir?"

"That is all."

He ended the call with a tap of his finger and returned to the office to say goodbye to his uncle.

She'll wish she never left Jakku, he thought, maliciously.

I'll destroy her.

A/N: Thank you for your response to the first chapter. I wasn't sure how this story would be received, but I'm beyond thankful for the feedback I've gotten. Also, huge — HUGE — shout out to my outstanding and dedicated Beta myheadsinthegalaxy. I couldn't have made this so exceptional without you! New mood board for this chapter is up on my tumblr account wewantreylo.

Soundtrack for the chapter:
Wake Up - EDEN
Walls - Airspoken
In My Head - Peter Manos
Pantomime - Ben Hammersley