Hit Me With Your Best Shot

by Sage McMae

Slowly, he made a move towards her. Her hands were up in an instant, her focus purely on him. It stirred something inside him, something equally dark and exhilarating. "Do that again," he commanded her. His words were unexpected. She shifted, unsure about his intentions. "W-what?" He repeated his words slowly, so there was no way for her to misunderstand. "Do. That. Again."

13. Can't Fight It

Chapter Thirteen: Can't Fight It

Rey was finishing up her first class of the morning, the kickboxing class, which was primarily made up of women. Her attendees had put forth a good effort this morning, most glistening with perspiration from their hard work. Master Luke was standing in the doorway, as the class wrapped up with some cool-down stretches. He greeted each person, as they passed, before stepping down onto the studio floor.

"Attendance is up," he remarked, as he came to stand alongside of Rey. "I have you to thank you for that."

She shrugged. "It's not hard. They are all good at taking direction and the kids keep me on my toes."

"Yes, I can tell they are all learning a great deal from you."

"Thank you."

"And what are you learning, Rey?"

She quirked an eyebrow at him. In her short time at Ahch-To, she had learned Master Luke tended to speak in riddles or half-truths, but there were times when his questions still caught her off-guard. This one, though seemingly innocent, had a certain hint of double-meaning to it.

"What do you mean?"

Luke gave her a knowing grin. "I noticed you arrived this morning with Ben. How long has that been going on?"

Rey blushed. Why did everyone keep assuming they were together? Ben was attractive, very successful, and had a handsome smile. Once one got around his attitude, he was quite the catch. He had far too many fans and far more admirers from his fights. Rey had seen what some of the women who attended the events looked like. Models, actresses, and even a few pop stars frequented the bigger fight nights. Anyone of those would certainly catch Ben's eye and would be a better match for him.

She couldn't hold a candle to those women. She didn't have the fancy clothes or the mannerisms they possessed. Growing up in the foster system, her table manners left a lot to be desired and her wardrobe consisted mostly of items she had purchased through the Goodwill and thrift shops. Rey had never even gone to her high school prom because she couldn't afford a gown. She couldn't imagine what she'd look like if she was done up the way those women were on television. She'd probably be unrecognizable.

Unrecognizable.

It was a word she'd use to describe Ben in the ring. When she had watched clips of his professional matches on YouTube, she had seen him become someone else. Kylo Ren. It was his legal name, but she only saw him as the dark fighter when he was up against an opponent in the league. In those moments, he truly became a monster. It was beautiful, in a strangely seductive way. His body moved without limits or hesitation, perfectly completing each attack as if it was nothing more than another breath for him. Despite all his rage, when he fought in the arena, he was calm, relying on his skills instead of his emotions.

Nothing held him back.

Nothing…which was the answer to her employer's question.

"Nothing is going on with Ben." She replied, taking care to keep the emotion out of her voice.

Luke made a face, suggesting he didn't believe her. Before he could press her further, she delivered on her promise to Finn, albeit later than she had vowed to. "There is something going on though, which is the reason for Ben driving me around. My foster father found me."

An unsettled expression passed over Master Luke's features. Rey continued.

"He threatened me at the club and Ben didn't want me to be alone in my apartment or commuting by myself, so he took me to stay with my managers last night in New Jedha. My bike is single-rider only, so he's my temporary chauffeur."

"Why didn't you bring this to my attention sooner?"

She thought on her promise and how she had avoided talking to Luke because she hadn't wanted Ben to know. Considering how he had found out, her black out was far more humiliating than him hearing it from her in passing. A tiny part of her wondered if she hadn't fainted, if they would have gotten as close as they had in such a short amount of time. There had been something building between them, but it wasn't until she had woken up not the dojo floor she had felt that something change. The first barrier had come down yesterday. There were many more to break down, but it had been the start of change for them. She couldn't be too upset with how it had all worked out.

"I was embarrassed." She admitted to Luke. It was a half-truth. She knew if she explained the whole story, Luke would read into it, the same way Maz had misinterpreted how she and Ben had arrived together at the cafe this morning.

"Rey," Luke placed a hand over hers on the counter top, "I know several members of the local police department. We will make sure you are protected."

"They are aware. My managers called when he approached me in New Jedha. The officers who responded to the call took my statement and alerted all the neighboring departments."

Luke opened his mouth to say something else, then closed it and shook his head. After a moment's pause, he asked her. "Was Ben there at Rogue One when it happened?"

"No."

"Thank God."

Rey saw relief flood Master Luke's features. She didn't understand why it mattered, but he seemed so concerned, she decided it was best to explain Ben's level of involvement.

"He knows everything that happened. I told him yesterday."

Luke's face grew stern. When he spoke again, he spoke slowly, emphasizing each word, as if he needed to ensure she understood the severity of the situation. She didn't.

"Rey, does Ben know where your foster father lives?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Why?"

"Ben has always had anger issues." Luke told her, as if he was giving her new information. She was well aware of Ben's anger issues. It was what had brought him into her orbit and she had nearly been on the receiving end of one of his punches.

"He cares for you and I'm concerned what he would do to protect you."

Rey meant to object. She meant to correct her boss and once again tell him there was nothing going on between her and Ben, even if she wanted there to be. Instead, all she said was, "What do you mean?"

Luke gave her a tight smile. "Ben was bullied often as a child. It caused him to be withdrawn and he often secluded himself from my other students, choosing to train or study extra schoolwork instead of trying to make friends. As he got older, he became more confident in his skills as a fighter and he didn't hold back when someone attempted to insult him."

"Is that what got him suspended from the league?"

"I do not know for sure. He hasn't spoken to me of it."

"But you think that's what happened?"

Luke shrugged. "Possibly. What I'm more concerned with is how he will respond to you being pushed around."

Rey didn't like the connotations of what her boss was saying. "People don't push me around."

"No," he chuckled, "I imagine they don't. However, it is one thing to stand up for yourself and quite another to survive against a tormentor, only to be targeted by them once more."

She froze. Before, she had been able to tell herself she hadn't spoken of Plutt to Luke because she didn't want to be embarrassed. Now, Ben knew and her boss did as well, yet she felt even more uncomfortable with sharing.

It had been difficult to talk to Ben about what she'd endured at the hands of her guardian. When she had finished, he hadn't looked upon her with pity or sadness. He had been angry and protective, immediately asking questions in order to assess whether or not she was safe. He didn't bother with sentiment. He took action. Finn and Poe had been the same. They had been the first ones she had spoken to after her requests to be transferred out of Unkar Plutt's care had been denied. After she had determined her raised concerns were falling on deaf ears, she had given up trying to discuss what happened behind closed doors. The only reason she had opened up to Finn and Poe was because they had constantly asked her about it and finally she had relented. Ben would have behaved the same way.

Master Luke, on the other hand, was quieter, more of a thinker than a doer. Rey wasn't ready to share details with him. It didn't make sense, considering how quick she had been to trust him when he allowed her to begin working at the studio and move into the apartment.

Her past had always been her darkest secret. As painful as it was to know her parents had abandoned her, it wasn't' the worst she had ever felt. That title belonged to how worthless Unkar Plutt had made her feel day in and day out while under his care. The power he had over her was in her head. It was something she had willed herself to break away from daily, yet it managed to still reach her on days when she was particularly low. She was ashamed of it.

Finn and Poe had often told her to not let it overwhelm her, convinced the more time she spent away from her awful guardian, the stronger she'd feel. It had worked, until Saturday night, when she had seen him in Rogue One. Any illusion she had held about being safe, being independent had shattered the moment he had appeared. She was still a bit raw from having shared the affect it had had on her with Ben. She wasn't ready to relive the experience again so soon, even if Luke's intentions were for the best.

"I don't want to talk about this."

He held up his hands, signaling he wouldn't push her on the subject. "Just keep an eye out on Ben, please. He has never been good about concealing his emotions and I fear what he may do if something were to happen to you, Rey." He pushed off the counter, where he had been leaning, and walked back towards the office.

But we aren't together! Rey shouted. The words never left her mouth.

She didn't try to understand why.

---

The drive back into town was lonely without Rey to chat with him. He could smell the scent of her lingering in the car. She always smelled warm — if that was possible — and fresh, like the first day of spring or a fresh summer's breeze. It was an odd thing to sense, but the scent was unmistakably Rey. He found himself taking slow, deep breaths to savor the reminder she had just been here with him.

Kanata Kaffeine's morning rush had ended by the time Kylo pulled up. Rose was milling around, wiping down the table tops and collecting trash. A few customers were still enjoying their brews — one reading a newspaper in the back corner while the other two looked to be having a business discussion by the window. No one looked up when he entered, the previous announcement of his entrance long forgotten.

He slipped past Rose, not giving her a chance to notice him, and went directly to the main counter where the owner was. She was banging around with the espresso machine, muttering under her breath.

"Maz?"

She swiveled around so fast, Kylo wondered how she didn't give herself whiplash.

"Ben."

There was no note of surprise in her voice. Like his uncle, and at times his mother, Maz always seemed to know things before they occurred. When he had been a boy, she had had a sixth sense about any trouble he considered getting into, long before he actually did it. In retrospect, he could see why such a gift made her a great caretaker, but as a child he had loathed her ability. The way she was watching him from behind her glasses now confirmed his reappearance in her cafe had been expected.

"Back so soon?"

"It's time we talked."

"Indeed." She came around the front of the counter, her fight with the espresso machine forgotten. "Let's get to it then."

She led him into her office, off to the side of the main cafe area, where she gestured for him to take a seat at her desk. She sat opposite him, leaning forward, staring at him over her spectacles, as if she was staring into his very soul.

Kylo waited for Maz to speak. The old woman was sure to want the first and last word with him, so patiently, which was a struggle for him, he waited.

Maz continued to stare at him for a time. When she spoke, there was no trace of anger or a long-held grudge in her tone. "What are you doing?"

"I'm here to talk to you."

"No, Ben. What are you doing with your life?"

"My life?"

"Yes," she raised her voice, slightly. "You didn't want to be a Skywalker or a Solo, so you left. You could have gone off and done anything, moved anywhere, yet you choose to go into the same line of work which made your grandfather famous, the same line of work which destroyed his life and his family."

"My grandfather didn't-."

Maz reached across the space between them to swat his hand. Despite her size, he felt a sting where her strike hit his flesh. "Don't interrupt."

"Sorry." He apologized, as he had when he was a boy. It was a learned behavior, brought on by her quick assault when he had spoken out of turn. She had often reprimanded him for it when he was younger. Some things never changed.

"You joined a league and a federation, but they are not the answer you seek."

"And what do I seek?"

"Belonging."

Kylo didn't say anything in return. It was true he had struggled to find connection in his life. After being let down by his parents and later his uncle, he had dismissed the idea of forming long-lasting relationships. It wasn't until he began spending time with Rey he considered revising his take on relationships. When he was with her, he felt called to her, as if they had been bonded in some unseen way. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before and difficult to describe, but he knew it was special.

Of course, it also made it that much harder for him to do the right thing by her, which would be to leave her alone. He hadn't been able to follow through on that, even though he had vowed to put her first, instead of his demented fantasies.

As if Maz had read his mind, she asked. "What are you doing with Rey?"

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me." The old woman peered over the tips of her glasses as him.

"I'm training her. She's a strong fighter."

"Most survivors are." Maz remarked before opening the bottom drawer of her desk. She pulled out an unframed photograph, glancing at it briefly before handing it over to Kylo. "Yours," she told him. "I've been holding onto it all these years. It was meant to be saved for when you had one of your own, but I fear that day may never come."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

She rewarded his sarcasm with another smack.

"Ow!" He hissed. "You know, that really does hurt."

"You don't know what real hurt is," she shook her head. "I'm giving this to you now to get you back on track."

Kylo didn't have a chance to question what she meant by her last statement, as his eyes focused on the pair in the image.

It was his father, Han Solo, holding him, moments after he was born in Hanna City Memorial Hospital. Han was standing by the window, smiling down at the small bundle in his arms with a rare look about his face. There was happiness there, a proud expression laced with the hint of terrified uncertainty, but ultimately, he looked the part of a joyous father.

Turning the photograph over in his hands, he recognized his mother's graceful, looping handwriting on the underside.

Han & Ben, 1988

Kylo flipped the photo over once more, his eyes focused on the image of his father. In the photograph, Han's arms were carefully wrapped about his son's small form. Kylo could make out the tufts of raven hair out of the top of the swaddling blanket. His mother had often talked about how he had been born with a head full of hair. His father would always respond with, "Its all those good Solo genes."

A pain, long dormant, resurfaced in Kylo's chest as he noted how pleased his father appeared to have been at the moment of his birth. Had Han ever looked at him that way again? Kylo couldn't remember ever seeing such an expression on his father's face.

"It's not to late."

"It is." Kylo responded. "I nearly killed him, Maz. He has been in recovery the past two years and I never so much as called him."

"Ben." She sighed, muttering something in a language he couldn't place. He stared at her, unsure of the meaning. With another sigh, she ordered. "Go home."

"Han Solo doesn't want to see me."

"You have so much of him in you. Both of you," she paused, shaking her head, "are far too stubborn. You're pigheaded, the whole lot of you."

"It's the Skywalker curse."

"Curse? Ha!" She reached over, smacking him across the side of his head. "The only curse your family has consists of your unwillingness to admit when you're wrong. You are all foolish, jumping in head first without thinking and then when you've gone too far you refuse to acknowledge it. Instead, you keep barreling down the same path, no matter how wrong you are."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because you need to hear it."

Kylo sat back in his chair, humming at her words. "I thought you'd yank my ear and scream into it, like when I was a boy. I didn't expect you to be so calm."

"I didn't expect you to be so lost."

"I'm not lost. I'm a world champion fighter. I make more money than both my parents combined and I didn't need either of them to get there. The success I have is completely my own. I haven't had to use their connections to gain my standing in the league."

"Just your family name," Maz pointed out.

Kylo glared at her.

"Tell me I'm wrong then." He didn't utter a word. "Snoke knew you were Anakin's grandson, the nephew of Luke Skywalker. Do you think he would have taken you in otherwise? The man is a leech."

"Maz." His tone was a warning, but she didn't seem bothered by it.

"Your mother never told you he came asking about you when you were born, did she?"

"Who?"

"Snoke."

Kylo shook his head. Why had the owner of the First Order come to see a baby? Kylo hadn't even known he wanted to fight until after he had been training with his uncle for a time. Had Snoke seen potential as early as infancy?

"After your mother was permitted visitors, he paid her a visit. I was about to leave when he came into her room. He asked about you, what she had named you, what her plans were for you. He was enraged when she mentioned you were only a day old and you would grow to be whatever you wanted to be. He said she lacked vision. He told her you needed to be trained from as early as you were able to walk so you could be great, even greater than your grandfather. It was then you're mother asked him to leave."

"If what you say is true, why wouldn't he tell me this himself?" Kylo asked, not sure if Maz was making up a story to get him speaking to his parents again or if she was speaking the truth.

"Would you have joined the First Order, if he had?"

He didn't have an answer for her query. When Snoke had come to him, he had been alone, angry, and adrift. He had been looking for belonging and he found it within the First Order. It answered his call. He had never had a reason to question it.

"Why didn't my mother ever tell me?"

"She did try. You were always so quick to anger. She recognized the temper from your grandfather. Where Luke saw an opportunity to help you learn control, your mother was still coming to terms with what her father had done. She wasn't prepared to deal with a child who had the same tendencies. I'm not saying I agree with her approach, but you need to understand how Anakin's choices hurt her. Your uncle forgave him. She never did."

"So it's my fault?"

"It's all of our faults, Ben. We are all to blame for the fallout, including me."

Whether it was her words or the way she was regarding him, Kylo couldn't be sure. Either way, he suddenly felt as if the office's walls were closing in on him. He felt small, as he had when he was a child, and he felt out of control. Normally, the feeling was heavy and hot, the type to send him spiraling off into a fit of rage. This time, however, it was empty and cold, making him feel as though he was caving in on himself.

He needed to get out of this town and away from the truth Maz had presented him. Maz had never had a reason to lie to him. Despite his desire to not want to believe her words, he knew deep down it was true — all of it. However, by being true, it meant his entire adult life was based on a lie.

Snoke, who he had hailed as his mentor, had lied to him, manipulated him for the First Order's gain. While Kylo has thought he found someone who cared about him, who saw potential in him, and trusted him to achieve greatness, Snoke had only seen a pay day.

In leaving the academy and devoting himself to the First Order, he had pushed his family further away. He had pushed everyone away except for Snoke. And now he knew it was for not for himself but for his mentor. Had he lost any of his previous fights, or lose in the future, he was sure Snoke would have cast him out as quickly as Luke had.

No one cared really about him. They only cared for what he could do for them.

"I've heard enough," he grumbled, standing up so abruptly, the chair squealed in protest as it skidded back.

"Ben."

"Thank you for the coffee, Maz."

"Ben."

She called again, but Kylo was already hurrying out the cafe door.

---

Kylo returned to the academy in time to catch Rey in her break between classes. She was practicing her staff forms when he walked in. For a few minutes, he simply stood by the doorway, watching her. Her movements were precise, yet graceful. Her face was set with determination, but she still looked chipper, the same delightful sunny personality she exuded normally. He found himself grinning as he watched her go through the motions.

Go home, Maz had told him.

He knew she had meant for him to return to his parents, to reconcile with Han and Leia before it was too late. She wanted him to go to the city, but he hadn't seen the city in his mind. The first place he had thought of was Rey's apartment, recalling the image of her waking up to searching for him and smiling when she did.

Her eyes found him in the mirror and she dropped her staff.

"Don't stop on my account."

She bent down to pick up her staff, before glaring at him, accusingly. "How long have you been standing there?"

"Not long."

"Where did you go?"

"To speak with Maz, as you suggested."

Rey tucked her staff away, stumbling a bit at his words. When she turned back towards him, her glare was still fixed on him, anger coming off her in waves. "I'm surprised you listened, especially since you can barely put up with me."

Kylo's grin fell away from his face. What? Where had that come from? He remembered her leaving the car abruptly, but he had assumed it was because he was at odds with Maz. He figured by clearing the air with his former babysitter, Rey would be happier. She had grown attached to the old woman in her short time in Tatooine. She had said as much last night when she had struck up a conversation via text with him. He understood how important her friends were to her. If he wanted to be a better man, he needed to start being better to the people she cared about. So he had gone back to the cafe.

But she was still upset.

"If anyone is putting up with anyone, it's you putting up with me," he said. Her glare faltered for a second. "I don't have friends, remember? Just my assistant and an unruly manager who is constantly pestering me about going to events to generate good PR."

"Are you expecting me to feel sorry for you?"

"No," he answered honestly, stepping down from the doorway onto the matted floor. "I'm making a point. I don't have friends because I'm not good with people."

"No kidding."

He smirked at her, sensing he was beginning to dig himself out of whatever hole he had dropped into."You're the only person in a long time," he paused, sighing as he admitted, "a very long time, that has even tried."

"You told me you don't want to be friends."

"I never said that."

"You did." She insisted, taking a step closer to him. "Last night."

He recalled their text conversation. She had been the first to reach out again, but he had been elated to hear from her so shortly after leaving. Kylo had needed the time during the drive home to think about her and about how to approach his growing attraction to her. Even after the drive, he wasn't able to develop a plan. In fact, he had been more torn than ever.

Despite his conflicted feelings, he had been looking forward to picking her up in the morning, even knowing he had no right to want her. When his phone had signaled a message from her, he had darted from his bathroom, toothpaste slipping out of his mouth, as his toothbrush nearly fell out in his haste to grab the mobile off his bedside table. He was grateful he lived alone so no one witnessed how he reacted to such a basic communication.

The more they had exchanged texts back and forth, the more he had found himself relaxing, easing into the idea he could have a relationship with Rey. She had told him how Cassian hadn't been warm to her and how she loved where she lived and what she did now, not because of the work, but because of the people she had surrounded herself with. It had made him remember he had never once asked her what she wanted to do with her engineering degree or without it.

It reminded him that he had spent the last two weeks working to force her into a position at the First Order. He had never asked her about her current jobs not having anything to do with engineering or if she had decided it was no longer the career path she wanted. His self-loathing came back and he had ended the conversation, closing himself off from her warmth and kind words. He didn't deserve them.

Now, he could see where she would assume he had meant he didn't want her around, versus the reality. He did want her around. He just didn't deserve her.

"I said you shouldn't want to be my friend."

"Same thing." She challenged him, moving further into his space.

"No," he shook his head, stepping forward. They were close now, almost as close as they had been last week when he had considered kissing her. "No, Rey, it's not. I want you-."

"Ben."

Damn it, Skywalker.

He didn't break his gaze away from Rey, as he spoke. "Uncle."

"Can I have a word, please?"

He was still locked on her, unwilling to move. He needed to finish what he had come to say. He needed to be truthful with Rey. He had already confronted Maz. It was time to do the same with Rey. He needed to come clean to her, admit to her what he had been trying to do since he had discovered her ability as a fighter. It was the right thing to do. It gave her the choice to decide whether or not she should continue to trust him.

So why couldn't he say it?

"In a minute."

"Now." There was an underlying tone of warning in his uncle's voice. Kylo ignored it.

"Luke."

"Ben."

"It's fine," Rey spoke to him, sliding her hand into his. She gave it a little squeeze. Her anger was gone. "We can talk later. You're taking me to the club for work, right?" Her eyes were suddenly so hopeful, as she stared up at him. She could have been asking him anything and he would have responded the same, no matter what the ask.

"Of course."

She gave his hand another little squeeze, then dropped away, heading over to one of the kickboxing bags to work on her uppercuts. Kylo struggled to tear himself away from the sight of her punching the bag. He could feel his uncle's eyes on him. Inwardly groaning, he pivoted around on his heel and followed him out of the studio to the office.

"Close the door behind you, Ben."

"What is this about?" He asked, as he took a seat across the desk from his uncle He had the distinct impression he was about to have a talking to, as if he was back in school and the principal was reprimanding him.

"Rey."

Kylo felt his entire body go tense. Had something happened while he had been at Kanata Kaffeine? Had Plutt found Rey? Had Plutt confronted Rey? Had Kylo not been careful enough by keeping her away from the academy? Should he call the police to provide new information on the search? He gripped the arm rests far too tightly. No, he told himself. No, if Plutt had come, Rey wouldn't be so calm. She would have called him, right?

He had to believe she would have called him.

"What about her?"

"She explained her situation."

The way Luke referred to Plutt coming after her at the club, did not sound like a situation. To Kylo, it sounded like harassment, a threat made against Rey, which did not sit well with him. It wasn't a situation, it was an incident. The same word the media used when Kylo had another raging outburst, which usually ended up at the top of MMA blogs and the front cover of the local paper. He had never liked the word, but given the circumstances, it fit better than 'situation'.

When Kylo didn't respond, Luke continued. "Have you...done anything?"

"Done anything?"

"Did you go after him?"

He knew he could lie. It would only delay the inevitable. He couldn't hide his intentions from Skywalker, no matter how he tried. His uncle would figure it out sooner or later. If he admitted it up front, he could reassure his uncle there was no turning back. Kylo's mind was made up when it came to Plutt's fate. He was done with the cretin. The bastard would pay for what he had done to Rey and once Kylo was done with him, he'd never consider coming after her again.

"Not yet."

"Ben." Luke stood up, slamming his hands down on the desk top. "You can't keep doing things like this! You're on a thin leash with the court already. Beating the man within an inch of his life isn't going to help matters."

"Who said I was going to beat him?"

Luke narrowed his eyes at him. Kylo shrugged, leaning back into the chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "I was considering knocking him unconscious and handing him over to the Hutts."

"Ben, be reasonable."

"I am!" Kylo snapped, arms falling down as he sprung forward leaning across the desk. "You're the one acting as if this is normal. It's not. She is afraid for her life. If I don't put a stop to him, who will?"

"The proper authorities."

"The police? Don't be ridiculous!" Kylo scoffed. "You know how a man like that operates. They are probably all on his payroll."

"Not outside of Jakku. There are good people here, Ben. They won't let him hurt her."

"Won't they?" Kylo sneered. "What makes her any different from me?"

"So you're going to make this about you now?"

"It's not that different."

"It is." Luke insisted. Both men were strained, leaning in towards the middle of the desk as they verbally spat back and forth. "You were a child. You were being bullied. It was unfortunate, but it wasn't life threatening. Rey is a grown woman. She is being targeted. It is an entirely different situation."

"Situation," Kylo growled. "It's not a situation. It's a crime. He shouldn't be walking around as a free man after all he's done to her."

Luke's face paled. "What has he done?"

Kylo stilled, realizing his fatal error. He had admitted to knowing more than Rey had shared with him. While she had confided in him about the verbal abuse, she hadn't gone as far to describe the years of physical abuse she had suffered at the hands of her guardian. Even so, Kylo had memorized the charts, knew where each injury had broken a bone or ripped her skin. When he saw a flash of scared flesh when Rey moved, he could connect it to the exact date and time she had been emitted to the ER for it to be treated. It made his blood boil.

"He abused her for years, under the front of being a foster father. He manipulated her under the guise of being someone she could trust and when she didn't keep in line, he'd beat her. He doesn't deserve to live."

Luke closed his eyes, taking a moment to digest the history Kylo had shared with him. The old man sunk back down into his chair, rubbing at the bridge of his nose, as if it would alleviate the tension hanging in the air between them. Kylo waited for his uncle to decide how to proceed. While their opinions on how to handle certain events differed, he didn't believe Luke Skywalker would turn his back on domestic violence or an abuse of authoritative power.

"Will Rey testify to those events?"

"Testify?"

"It may be the only way to lock him up permanently."

The tension in the office eased away as the men both agreed something needed to be done to protect Rey.

Kylo had known a court mandated restraining order and a prison sentencing were the justice system's way of dealing with problems like Plutt. He hadn't put a great deal of faith in the system. From Rey's files and what she had shared with him yesterday, he didn't believe she would trust the system either. His uncle, however, seemed to believe it was their only option. For the first time in a long time, Kylo considered returning his mother's calls. Leia Organa was sure to have connections which could help them win a case if they were to fight Plutt in court.

Asking for help was not an option Kylo had ever considered before. Since his emancipation, he limited his communications with his parents. Going back felt too much like admitting he had been wrong to ask for his freedom at fifteen. However, this wasn't for him. This was for Rey. For her, he would broker a deal with his mother, if it meant she'd be safe.

"I suppose you won't call her, if I was able to convince Rey to testify?" Kylo sat down in his chair, beginning to consider the option more seriously.

"No," Luke smirked. "She may be my sister, but she's your mother and if she's going to help your girlfriend, the ask should come from you."

"Rey isn't-."

Luke held his hands up, immediately. "I know. I know." He sighed, shaking his head. "The both of you are so stubborn. Just like Han and Leia. Won't admit what is right in front of your noses."

"I am nothing like my father," Kylo hissed, ignoring everything else his uncle had said.

"You have your father's heart, whether you are willing to admit it or not." Luke chuckled. "Han always ran in, guns blazing, without a thought or care for any consequences and it only got worse when he was trying to impress your mother." Luke glanced in the direction of the studio, as if he could see through the walls separating them from where Rey was practicing.

"Han Solo is a fool."

"Yes," Luke nodded. "But he was a fool who fell in love with a great woman and he has spent every day since loving that same woman...for better or worse." His uncle shot him another knowing look. "There are worse ways to live your life."

"Indeed." He sneered.

When had the conversation shifted from protecting Rey to his parents?

"I'll go talk to her," he announced, rising up from his seat.

"Tell her I say hello."

"Not my mother," Kylo growled. "Rey."

Luke began shuffling through some of the paperwork on his desk. "Don't put off the conversation with Leia too long. You've already made her wait years, Ben."

"Then maybe she should have chosen her family over her career."

"Ben."

"I'll talk to her." He confirmed, standing by the office door. "But not about that. I made my choice a long time ago and so did she."

His uncle didn't try to say anything further on the subject, sensing the subject was closed for the time being. He returned his attention to his business, while his nephew walked out.

When Kylo returned to the main studio floor, Rey had stopped her merciless pounding of the bag to take a long drink of water. He wasn't sure how to broach the subject of Plutt with her. It was sensitive for her and he was afraid if he said the wrong thing, she'd put her walls up, shut him out. For a moment, he considered going back to the office to have Luke start the conversation off.

While he hated to admit it, his uncle was right. Getting the court involved was the best legal action to take. It would document all of Plutt's past assaults on Rey so he would be considered unfit to foster any future children and would justify Rey obtaining a restraining order from him. Of course, the man would be going to prison for a long time. At his age, by the time he was released, he would pose no threat to anyone, least of all Rey.

It was then, Kylo realized how he had begun to bond with her. Through their skill, they had found an intriguing challenge within each other. He had vowed to teach her and now the lesson was more critical. The techniques she should be focusing on where self-defense, in nature. He decided honing her abilities on forms which were real-life applicable would not only give her mind something to focus on, other than the fact Unkar Plutt still roamed freely, but it would help her rebuild her confidence after his display at the club.

"Rey?"

"Ben." She smiled over the top of her water bottle at him.

"I was thinking we could train today, since you have a few hours until the afternoon classes." He sat down on the top step, removing his sneakers carefully, so as not to mess up the mats. He didn't need her to remind him again.

Her face brightened at the suggestion. "More Sinawali?"

"No. Today I want to show you some wrist locks and other defensive techniques." Kylo padded over to her, matching the state of her bare feet.

"Defensive techniques?" She repeated, eyeing him suspiciously. He could see her connecting the dots in her heard as she put two and two together. "Any special reason for the change in curriculum?"

"It's relevant."

Rey hummed, but didn't argue with him. "Alright, let's do it."

Kylo stood in front of her and held out his arms, baring both of his wrists to her. "Typically when a man grabs a woman, he will grab her by the arm or the wrist. It's a predictable behavior to show dominance and intimidate the woman into submission. I'm going to demonstrate a few simple techniques to turn the grab against your attacker. We're going to go through them quickly and keep practicing them so they become part of your muscle memory. I want you to know them inside and out so you can react based on instinct."

Rey nodded.

"Grab my wrist with one hand."

She reached forward, wrapping her fingers tightly around his left wrist and squeezing as hard as she could. Her hand barely made it around his wrist. He spread the fingers of his left hand wide, before pulling his arm up towards his chest in a circling fashion to meet his right hand, which she hadn't noticed he moved. He effortlessly plucked her offending hand off of his wrist, before bending it back and pressing down across her knuckles. Rey winced at the strained position and the pain it caused in her own wrist.

"Tap out when you feel pain. This isn't a contest of wills. We're merely practicing," he explained.

Rey slapped her thigh with her free hand, indicating she could feel the pressure. Kylo released her instantly.

"The bent wrist press is a simple, yet effective method for turning the attack back on your attacker. Now you try."

With no hesitation, his hand snapped forward, latching onto her wrist in the same manner she had grabbed him previously. Rey mimicked his movements precisely, following the guidance he had provided until she had his wrist bent back at an uncomfortable angle and he was tapping out.

"Good. On to the next one."

He gestured for her to grab him once more. This time, he showed her how to get out of using the attacker's own arm against them, by reversing the energy omitted by the opponent to jam the attacker's elbow back into their own stomach or chest. Rey let out a grunt as Kylo's elbow connected with her sternum.

"Are you alright?"

"Fine," she wheezed, her hand coming up to rest on her breast, before she caught her breath.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes," she gritted out, as she advanced on him.

He responded by snatching her wrist. Within seconds, she had expertly completed the same lock he had used against her only moments before. When she pressed him into the lock, the pain in his joint was enough to send him to his knees. He tapped out, while glancing up at her. There was no longer a smile on her face. It had been replaced with a vengeful snarl. When Rey wanted to be fierce, she was terrifying.

They went back and forth in such a manner for the remainder of the afternoon, until Kylo had demonstrated all sixteen wrist lock techniques he had in his repertoire. Rey ran through each with delicate precision and a grace he had never possessed. Where he was raw strength and brute force, she was lithe flexibility and finesse. He had chosen these particular moves because they were simple and could be used by anyone regardless of size or strength. The pressure points were the target, which made the effects of such a technique useful for those normally marked as 'prey' in the outside world. Rey took full advantage of how effective each lock was. Kylo found himself tapping out quicker and quicker as the afternoon went on, though she took care not to send him to the floor.

"How do you feel?" He asked, when they paused for a water break. It was nearly lunch time and he wanted to make sure she had sufficient fuel to continue prior to her afternoon classes and her shift at the club.

"Good. Great." Her smile was full and wide.

"You picked them up fast," he commended her. "Let's end here for today."

"What?" Rey's face fell. "Why?"

"Because you need to eat and rest. We can run through them again tomorrow. I'm still driving you, until this whole mess with Plutt is over and done with," he promised.

The smile returned, along with her hopeful expression. Suddenly, she threw her hand out before him. He stared at her, unsure if she was testing him on the wrist locks, or if this was something else. "I'll make you a deal."

"Deal?"

"Yeah," she laughed. "We can keep up with this new routine, but only if you join me for lunch each day. You need to eat too."

Kylo started to protest. He had seen the limited contents of her kitchen He would not be the one to drain her cupboards and fridge. He was a large man and he could eat, when he paused long enough to actually consume a meal. He didn't want her worrying about him or the amount he could put away.

"Rey-."

She withdrew her hand, quickly. "Yes or no, Ben?"

He leveled his eyes with hers. "Rey."

The deeper tone of his voice did nothing to her. Normally he could intimidate others into following what he wanted them to do — not Rey — she was unflinching. She stood there, stubborn and unwilling to relent. He was positive having lunch with her on a daily basis would not help matters. He was already struggling to remain neutral towards her. Kylo was drawn into her and with each laugh or smile she gifted his way, he fell deeper and deeper into his affection for her, despite his belief he wasn't good enough for her.

"Going once."

"Rey."

"Going twice."

"Rey!"

"Going-."

"Fine. Yes. Lunch it is."

She flashed him a brilliant smile, grabbing her water bottle, then grabbing his hand. In the next minute, she was dragging him out of the studio, towards her apartment. She didn't seem at all concerned about bursting into his uncle's office or Luke's amused expression when he saw her hand clasped around Kylo's hand. Thankfully, his uncle remained silent, only given them a brief nod in greeting, as they passed to ascend the staircase to her home.

Rey had left the door unlocked this time. Normally he would have questioned her about her lax attitude in safety precautions, but he knew both she and his uncle had been at the studio all morning. There was no way anyone could have gotten past either of them and up to her apartment.

Kylo was about to ask her when she had had time to procure food, but stopped when he recalled the amount of provisions Maz had sent over the day prior. There was plenty for both of them. She was already sticking herself in the fridge to pull out all the options, while he awkwardly stood by her kitchen table, where they had eaten the previous night, unsure if he should take a seat or offer to help her.

"Sit down," she pointed to one of two empty chairs in her kitchen.

He did as she instructed, not thinking on how he hadn't hesitate before heeding her command. As he sat in the same spot he had been in mere hours previously, he was reminded of how she had confided in him. Rey had started to trust him enough to divulge information about her past willingly. It was more than he could have hoped for and now she was once again opening herself up to him, permitting him inside her home to share her food with him. It was almost too much.

Almost.

Kylo had been kidding himself if he had thought he could turn down the opportunity to spend alone time with her. Each minute he got to spend with her was beautiful torment. While part of him basked in the pleasure of her company, the other part screamed out in anguish, reminding him he could never truly be with her because of what he had done, because of the monster he was at his core. It was a tumultuous ping-pong effect for his emotions and mental state, yet he refused to remove himself from it or Rey.

Laying out the leftovers from Rose's delivery, Rey took the seat opposite him. She grabbed a sandwich, before tearing into it, obviously not shy about eating in front of him. It was another one of her defining qualities. Unlike other women he had spent time around within the league on and on the PR circuit, Rey had no issue with eating. If her manners were anything to be considered, she ought to have cared a bit more, but he found no reason to correct her, as he continued to devour her lunch.

He picked up another sandwich, unfolding the wrapper to reveal Maz's signature Italian hoagie — another one of his favorites. He didn't allow himself the time to ponder over whether or not Maz had foreseen him sharing multiple meals with Rey. The woman's affinity for foreseeing the future was far too astounding. He ate in companionable silence with his host, not thinking too long on any subject which crossed into his thoughts.

"It's been a while since I had lunch with someone." Rey admitted. "This is nice." She said to him with a grin.

"It is," he replied, mirroring her expression.

And he meant it.

---

A/N: A HUGE thank you to everyone for supporting this story and those who have followed me on tumblr. I hit 1k followers over the weekend. Feel free to reach out an say hi! Major kudos to my beta AbyssalSpark for continuing to provide guidance and feedback as I send her chapter after chapter. You're amazing!