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Finn stiffens. The man comes closer, closer. His gaze bores into them. Rose takes a step forward. Finn grips her arm. The garish lights blur out the background around them.
"Oh, DJ!" calls out a woman in a short skirt, running up to him. She grabs his elbow, chattering. A diamond necklace glints around her neck.
Rose narrows her eyes.
"Is that him?" Finn whispers.
"I don't know," Rose says. "It might be—it looks like him."
Finn isn't so sure. He could kick himself for not remembering the exact face of that man. So much for being worth anything. And then his eyes land on two someones in the distance, lingering by a slot machine. They're laughing. "We've got a bigger problem," Finn manages. His grip digs into Rose's arm.
"Huh?" She spins around, red dress flowing around her. Poe and Rey gesture frantically from the background.
Hux and Phasma look up, and Finn grabs Rose, ducking behind a waitress. They jostle her tray. She yelps.
"Sorry, sorry!" Finn gasps, raising his hands.
"How can they be in here? They're underage," grouses Rose.
Fin cocks his eyebrow at her.
"They all know who Hux is," Rose points out. "He's their owner's son. Or a lot of them would know." She looks over her shoulder. "Hey, he's gone!"
DJ. Finn frowns, scanning the room, its red carpets and elderly people laughing, the alcohol flowing and the slot machines binging. "There he is!" DJ ducks out a doorway labeled Employees Only.
Rose glances at Finn. He curses, but pulls her in the direction of the doorway. They jostle their way through the crowd. Finn pushes the door open. He spots DJ rounding a corner down a dark corridor. Rose picks up pace. Finn's heart pounds. If they get caught, they are definitely going to be in way over their heads. Leia and Han will find out. His—
A familiar voice sounds behind them. Rose yanks Finn around the corner. DJ is nowhere to be seen, but a small alcove next to a window covered in dark curtains provides the perfect hiding place, if a bit cramped. They wedge themselves inside.
"Funny," says Hux's voice. "I thought that looked like Dameron and that gutter rat." The voices come closer.
Fuck. Finn whips out his phone to text Rey and warn her.
"We should tell security, Armitage," Phasma says, voice blasé as ever. "Watch the goody-two-shoes get in trouble."
"Neither of them are good-two-shoes," says Hux with a laugh. "Though I did always think Dameron was gay. But whatever. Maybe he's bi."
"Well, Dameron has that incident with Paige Tico," allows Phasma. "But that girl—"
"I know all about her," says Hux, voice bored. "I looked her up. Her parents ditched her and she worked for some scuzzy mechanic who's rumored to deal drugs on the side. No wonder Ren likes her so much; she's probably turning tricks."
Finn starts. Rose grabs him, holding him back. Bastard.
"She's nothing special," continues Hux. Both he and Phasma pass by, but don't look to the side of them. "She was even arrested once for stealing. Their whole auto shop was. 'Course since she's a minor that record's supposed to be sealed, but you know."
Phasma laughs.
Finn glares after them. His knuckles pop as he squeezes his fists. They have no idea what it's like. It's also damn rich of them to stroll around Daddy's casino in their designer clothes, breaking the law themselves, and talk as if they're high and mighty over a kid who grew up alone and just wanted to survive. Finn knows how Rey feels. Loneliness is the greatest desperation.
"Dickheads," Rose mutters when they round the bend.
"I'm going to—"
A cry breaks through the hallway. Rose whirls.
"Shouldn't we go after DJ? Or just leave?" Finn asks. He taps out that text to Rey. He has to tell the rest in person, but for now, she and Poe should know security's about to be sicced on them.
"That sounded like a kid, though!" Rose picks up pace. She ducks right, and then left—Finn struggles to keep up—"Rose!"
"You're a useless piece of shit, you know that?"
The voice cuts through Finn's memories. He stiffens, and then he's whirling, and he doesn't know where he is. All the people who told him that, who didn't have to tell him that but made it clear he wasn't even worth the breath to speak to, Hux his foster parents those teachers Nines and Slim, Slim, the one who died, blood red, holding Finn's hand as he tried to stop—it was an accident—meaningless—just like—I wanted you to live—
A child cries.
"Stop!" Rose shouts.
Finn stumbles. He looks up. Rose glares at a middle-aged man with a face like an angry mosquito. A small boy cries heavily next to him, shoulders shaking.
"He's my son," says the man. "Just who do you think you are?"
"Someone who's about to call security on you," Rose retorts. "That's not how you talk to your child. He deserves better."
"He just admitted to stealing—"
"What's he even doing in a casino?" Rose interrupts. Finn can't speak. It's too familiar. It's again. It's now. It's before.
"I work here," snarls the man. "We have a room for employees' children." He jerks the little boy's arm. "Let's go."
The boy looks up at Rose, brown eyes wide and tearful and hopeful. It's a look Finn remembers giving so many people. So many. His teachers. Strangers. His friends and their parents, the parents they were blessed to have. And they always turned away.
"No," Rose says, her voice rising. "You're not leaving. Not with him. You're—"
"He's my—"
"You—"
"Is there a problem?" snarls a security guard.
"Yes," says Rose. "He's abusing his kid. Can't you see the way his cheek's all flushed? He hit him. And he yelled at him and called him useless."
The boy cries.
The security guard's eyes narrow. "And who are you? What are you doing back here?"
A hand lands on Rey's shoulder. She jumps. A stern-faced security guard with a mustache glowers down at her.
"Shit," says Poe as one grabs his arm. "Okay, okay. We'll leave."
"No," says the security guard. "We're calling your parents."
Fuck. "I don't have them," Rey says quickly.
"Too bad." The man snorts. "Come back with us."
Rey hesitates. She could easily kick them and run for it. Poe catches her eye. He tenses.
"Rey!"
Shit. Rey looks back to see Finn and Rose both with security around them. Hux stands in the background, smirking. Phasma just arches an eyebrow as if this is only mildly amusing. Rey flips them off.
"That's enough, young lady," snarls the guard. His fingers dig into her forearm as he drags her back through a maze of hallways, finally tossing her into a room where a tired bald man demands their names, their parents' names, and phone numbers.
Rey's phone buzzes. Kylo. She bites her lip, tears stinging her eyes and prickling the back of her throat. She doesn't know what to say to him. We're caught? Please do damage control with your parents? I don't want to go away?
"Take them across the hall," orders the head of security. They're marched to a small office across it, with green padded benches and plants lining the cabinets and desk. They're fake, Rey presumes, because there are no windows. Just white walls and lights that glare down on them. Rey sits next to Poe, a lump growing in her throat.
"I'm dead," Poe proclaims. "My dad is going to kill me for wrecking his good night's sleep."
"Mine will just be upset I'm worrying them when they need to focus on Paige," Rose whispers. She doubles over, wrapping her arms around herself.
Rey meets Finn's eyes, her phone cold in her hand. The lights hurt her eyes.
"Just blame it on me," Poe says roughly. "Seriously."
"They know me too well to buy that I didn't want to go find the assassin," Rose says. "I can't believe I'm saying that word like that, like this is my life."
Rey imagines having a parent know you. Her heart aches. When she wins and goes back to Jakku, maybe—
"It was my fault," Poe says. "The reason she's in this coma. The reason you're here now. It's me, Rose." He curls his fist and thumps his knee. He lifts his head, eyes wet. "I was responsible, Rose, and I—"
"It was an accident," Finn interjects. "Right?" He looks at Rose, who just stares at Poe.
Poe shrugs. His lips tremble. "Accidents—I still set in motion what would happen—" He rakes his hands through his hair Rey wouldn't be surprised if his fingers leave scratch marks on his scalp. "It is my fault—not all of it—but some of it is." He meets Rose's eyes. "I'm so sorry, Rose. Paige was—is—a great friend of mine, and she—"
"I don't blame you," Rose says, voice trembling. She wipes at her face. "I mean—it means a lot to hear you say that, Poe, it does, but I—don't blame you. My sister was always a carefree spirit. She would have wanted to sneak out that day; I know she would have. That's who she is." She covers her mouth. "I still just—don't know why or how she's a target of this."
"She doesn't deserve it," Poe says roughly. "I'll help, Rose. We'll find out who did it, and why. This is just a setback."
"I'll help you, too," Finn says quietly. His hand lands on the back of Rose's gorgeous dress.
Rose looks up at him, cheeks wet. A strange sensation washes over her.
She's so lonely. Rey huddles into herself. She pulls out her cell phone, seeing six messages from Kylo.
Rey
Rey
REY
WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU WHY ARENT YOU ANSWERING MY MESSAGES
IF YOU DON'T ANSWER ME IN FIVE IM GOING TO TELL MY PARENTS ME TELL ME PARENTS ME
DO YOU KNOW HOW DESPERATE THAT MAKES ME
WE'VE BEEN CAUGHT, she texts him back in all caps. I'm sorry.
And then she turns the phone over, because she doesn't want to deal with the disappointment. At least Leia and Han won't hit her like Unkar would have. Or keep her from eating for a day. Her stomach rumbles.
The door to the office swings open. Rey jumps.
A scruffy-looking man dressed in a blackjack dealer's uniform with a red rose pin on his lapel crosses his arms.
Rose leaps up. "You!"
"Do I know you?" he asks, cocking his head. "'Cause don't think I didn't notice you kids being a) underage, and b) following me. You didn't even drink. That's pretty dumb of you. Might as well have taken advantage of the opulent opportunities of a place like this."
"Why are you here?" Finn demands.
"Did you try to kill my sister?" Rose shouts.
The man blinks. "Are you insane? Is this like escape from the nuthouse?"
"That's ableist," Poe retorts.
"Ehh, fuck that shit," says the man. He leans against the doorjamb, drumming his fingers on the wood. "So. You gonna tell me? Or can I guess that this is about that girl who almost got euthanized?"
"Can you not be a dick?" Rey snarls.
"I'm not a dick; I have a dick." The man winks.
"I didn't need confirmation," she says.
The man lets out a snort. "You're cute." He turns back to Finn and Rose. "But I heard it was an employee too. Sucks right?" He holds his hands up in the air. "But. I promise you this, kids. It wasn't me."
"Funny," says Poe. "That's exactly what an assassin would say."
"Funny," says the man. "I'm not interested in lying to kids from the nuthouse." He spreads his hands. "Look. I'll make a deal with you. I'll look around. I can figure out who it might've been clearer than the cops can. They already came and talked to me. Two days ago."
"And why would you do that?" Rose asks.
"Money," says the man, crossing his arms.
"Are you a gambler?" Finn asks.
"Does it matter?" The man shrugs. "I also used to be private investigator." He tosses Rose a card. "Look it up. Give me a call."
And then he's gone.
The moment the phone rings, Kylo cringes and buries his face in his pillow. Rey and Finn are in so much shit. Although his parents are more lenient than others. At least this might show his parents that their foster kids aren't perfect replacements for him after all.
Not that he's happy about it. Kylo punches his pillow. He feels for Rey and Finn. And Rose. Dameron can eat rocks. But at least they're safe. He was about to jump in his car and head over there, Snoke's impending fury be damned. But then Rey texted.
"Ben!" bellows Dad.
Dammit. He drags himself up and to the staircase. "Yeah?"
"Get downstairs!"
"Why?"
"Because I said so?"
"Do I care?"
"Don't make this worse!"
Okay, he really shouldn't be making this worse for Rey and Finn. He clomps down the stairs, rolling his eyes. "What's going on?"
"Your mother and I have to go pick up Rey and Finn. Take a guess where they were."
"I have no idea."
Dad points his finger at Kylo's face. "I highly doubt that."
Kylo blinks. You actually think I would have tried to help them? Why?
Mom storms into the living room, keys jangling. She glares at him.
"Don't blame me," Kylo snaps, hands rising. Of course. Of course they're going to blame him and not Rey or Finn or Poe or Rose. It's always him. Always just him. Loser.
"I'm not," Mom replies.
"Don't send them away," Kylo says, surprising himself.
Mom blinks. "We wouldn't think of doing that."
Of course not. But the moment I got into a fistfight with Hux at school, you sent me away to Uncle Luke for a summer. Kylo nods. "Well, good."
They leave, and Kylo waits in the living room. He texts Rey. They're on their way. She doesn't respond. He hopes she's okay.
When they return, Mom's thin-lipped and Dad's shaking his head. Finn's head hangs low, and Rey looks as if she's struggling not to cry.
"Get some rest," Mom says.
Kylo waits a few minutes, and then jogs up the stairs himself, and up to Rey's third floor room. He knocks.
Rey opens it, her eyes red-rimmed.
"What happened?" Kylo asks.
Rey steps back to let him in. Her bed's covered in a soft blue comforter, and a raggedy doll wrapped in what look like a dress made of orange scraps sits on the pillow. Kylo takes a seat on her bed.
Rey shrugs. "They aren't getting rid of us."
"That's good," he says. But there are other ways to get rid of someone, even if you keep them under your roof.
Rey drops down next to him. Her fingers trace the edge of one of her pillows, a light gold color. "We told them that we just wanted to play slots."
Kylo's eyebrows fly up. "Did they buy it?"
Rey nods.
He doubts it. But at least they didn't figure out the assassin scheme. They'd lose their shit if they knew. Kylo can hear his mother now.
"Mr. Skywalker is going to be pissed," says Rey. "I'm sure Hux will spread it around school."
"Fuck him," says Kylo.
She snorts.
He reaches out and grabs the doll. He stands it up on the bed and raises his eyebrows at her.
She smiles, taking the doll. "I made it for myself when I was about eight. Unkar wouldn't buy me anything, so I had to make whatever I wanted."
"Why did your parents leave?" Kylo asks.
Rey stiffens. "I don't know. If I earn the scholarship and then go back to Jakku, maybe—maybe they'll come back."
"You'd go back?" Kylo asks incredulously.
She frowns. "It's not like I have other options."
"I'm pretty sure that despite your fuck-up today, my parents would keep both you and Finn." They like you more than me. But that's not your fault. I like you too.
He does. He really likes her. That lost look in her hazel eyes, the freckles spilling over her skin—she's lonely.
Rey shakes her head. "I'd have to go back. I can't risk missing them."
Frustration sizzles. "If they wanted you, they would have come for you already."
Tears fill Rey's eyes. He doesn't mean to hurt her. But it's true, it's definitely true. He needs her to know. Please don't hang on.
The door opens. Kylo whirls around.
But it's just Finn. He raises his hand. "Hey."
"Hey," Kylo responds as Finn comes and wedges himself between Kylo and Rey.
Finn scratches his head. "Your parents are really amazing, Kylo."
Kylo grits his teeth. "To you."
"Huh?" Finn reaches out and grabs on of the pillows, holding it over his stomach. "What do you mean?"
"They're always so—wrapped up in their own lives," Kylo says. He wants to force them to accept it, force the facts into their brains, make them see. Don't leave me all alone. "They don't notice me. Dad once even said he had no idea how to be a father. To Chewie. I heard him. And for a liar he can occasionally speak the truth."
"A liar?" Finn demands. "How—"
"He used to be a petty criminal, Finn," Kylo interrupts. "He was a smuggler. Him and Chewie both. He has an extensive record. Except he's been walking the straight and narrow since marrying my mom. Well, more or less."
Finn's mouth falls open. "I never would have guessed."
Rey almost smiles. "I knew I liked him."
Huh? You want to be a criminal? Kylo doesn't understand. "I never want to be like them. Not my mother, not my father, not my uncle." Maybe his grandfather. He was cool. At least from what Kylo's heard of him from Snoke, a friend of Grandfather's, he was.
"Nor do I," Finn says. "I mean, I'd like to be like your mom or dad or uncle. But I don't want to be like my parents. Whoever they are. My dad might not even know I exist. I don't know if you can even call him a dad in that case." He rests his chin on the pillow.
"I just want mine back," Rey whispers. She swallows. Tears fill her eyes.
Kylo reaches out and puts his hand on her shoulder.
Up next: Hux acts on his threat.