Thanks everyone for the reviews! It makes my day when I get to hear from one of you! ilovekyloren: Here is another chapter! I am glad you find it hard to stop reading the story. I try to implement things into the story that keep the readers attention, so don't stop reading! HogwartsIsOurHome: Thanks! I originally had their first kiss planned for a later chapter, but as I wrote the previous chapter, it ended up happening. I tried fighting it, but the story was demanding to be written that way, so I let it happen. And you are so on point that there is more going on with Rey than her poor nutrition. Keep reading and you will see... Natalie-S-246: Well, I am happy you like long chapters cause that is what is going to happen! I can't stop these fingers from writing! Kimmycocopop: Yeah, even if you do have the Force, that doesn't mean you will be able to have a good relationship. Maybe if Rey lets their connection be open a lot more, Ben could react to her better, but Rey likes her privacy. lol Sona: Oh, just wait for the rest of the story. You will be afraid, very afraid. Muahahaha! lol. MaelsiC: Yeah! Their first kiss has finally happened. Of course one of them has to go make things more complicated, and for once it was not Ben who did it. And I could always use a good joke! Keep me laughing and I will keep on writing! Love your reviews! Jedi Kay-Kenobi: I am so happy you enjoyed the scene where Ben was egging Rey on. I edited that scene A LOT, so it makes me feel good knowing someone enjoyed it. And the cooking scene... the electricity between the two of them was sizzling, but I decided to keep it an emotional scene rather than them getting physical. Trust me, I was tempted to have them makeout right then and there, but I refrained. lol You predicted one thing correctly in your review though. Now you will have to read to find out!
Again, thanks for all your comments and I hope you enjoy the chapter. It is probably not what you all were expecting, but it is what I envisioned! Enjoy!
Chapter Eighteen
Rey walked along the beach, heading toward the distant lights of the city. She wasn't sure what time it was, but she had to get out of the confines of the ship. Preferably without Ben knowing. The thought of seeing or talking with him after what had happened made her stomach tighten into knots. The innate pull to touch his skin and to taste his lips was still there. Her body yearned for more. What's worse is that she knew he had felt that need from her.
That kiss… that kiss awoke something inside her that demanded to be satiated. And the way Ben looked at her reminded her of their first dream together, though his gaze in the ocean had been a thousand times more potent. Their connection had been open and flowing as he impressed upon her just how badly he wanted her lips to lock onto his and she couldn't stop herself from obliging.
The bond flared within her, causing her to feel the vastness of his emotions. As she cradled his face and closed her eyes, relishing in the feel of him, she saw the part of him that he kept locked away, even from himself. He had always denied his humanity, but it was there and she could taste it within her own heart.
While sealed in that moment, Rey had picked up on how the Light inside Ben cared deeply and fast, with all of himself or none at all. He gave off the illusion that he could never be hurt, but in truth, he scarred easier than most. He was brutality and tenderness, all compacted into the same whisper. In his complete lack of in betweens, he was mesmerizing, and the fire within her had not been able to look away.
Rey turned onto a dirt road as a small part of her conscience ripped through her thoughts, showing Kylo Ren dressed completely in black with not a touch of skin showing. His mask, that mask Rey hated with a vengeance, was mocking her for the way she felt. That creature laughed deeply at her foolishness for thinking that Ben could ever be hers, for he would always belong to the guise of Kylo Ren.
The murder of Han came imposingly to her mind.
She squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stop her tears from falling, but failing as one slid down her cheek. Her circumstances had never been fair, and Ben was no exception. Her mind wondered to her childhood fantasies, how she would pretend a prince would save her from her insignificant existence. She would leave Jakku behind and venture out into the galaxy with her other half, finding any clue that would lead her to her family.
Rey's childish dreams were still very much a part of her. And yet, she knew it was naive to yearn for such stories to come true. But Ben was the one who'd been calling out to her through the stars. Every night, looking up at the sky, it had been him reaching out for her, needing her. Beckoning. But being drawn to someone and being with them were two different things.
Could being together actually work between us?
This gave her pause. Rey hungered for an emotional connection with him, but wasn't sure he'd even be willing to give her the same. Did he even remember how to connect with someone? She was shocked she was even entertaining the idea of actually, fully being with him. Doing so would make her entirely vulnerable to Ben, and she wasn't sure if she was ready for something like that. Her intuition was telling her that he might never get to that point either.
So many obstacles stood in the way of that vision: Snoke, her friends, his family, the fact that the Dark side had broken Ben's spirit and he was now a slave to that pain. He had taken so many lives and had watched people die with the very eyes Rey liked to gaze into.
The ramifications of being with him had the possibility of being very severe. She knew the possibility of losing her friendship with Finn was high, considering how Ben nearly killed him and had witnessed the killing of Han. Hopefully, she would never have to choose between the two men... because if she had to, she knew who she would give up.
Gods, she was a horrible friend.
Rey was getting tired of thinking of Ben's sins. It was like an endless circle of self-doubt that started with wanting him and then remembering who he was, which ended with her feeling guilty for her desires and trying to live in denial.
The large gates of the city came into view. Rey banished her doubts and needs from her thoughts, wanting to get lost in the city and forget about the complexities of her life. Just for a little while.
Her nerves stood up as she noticed the guards on both sides of the posts, but she kept her strides even and her face blank. The guards paid her no heed. She let out a strangled exhale once she entered the city. S
See, you're a nobody, she thought inwardly. Not a single person will know who you are.
The city proved to be very overwhelming. So many aliens and humans lined the streets that Rey was having a hard time navigating through the many shops. She was not used to being around this many people. In fact, she'd never been in a crowd of this magnitude. Stealthily, she snaked her way through the extravagantly dressed beings and pressed her back against a stony wall.
A door slid open beside her. A group of human women walked out, each one carrying a bundle of bags and laughing out into the warm night air. Rey slid inside the shop quickly, needing to collect her thoughts from the rush of outside traffic.
Her vision was instantaneously bombarded by a vast spectrum of color she never knew existed. Fabrics of many shapes and sizes lined the walls and filled up nearly all the floor space. She walked forward, hypnotized, caressing her fingers against the soft clothes and awed at the intricate designs.
"Can I help you find something?" Rey twisted around to find a female Togruta waiting for her reply. She looked older, but Rey wasn't sure what constituted old with Togruta's. The female's grey skin had intricate white lines across her cheeks and forehead that scaled up into her blue horns. Her facial expression seemed kind, though, helping Rey to relax.
"Uh… I need some clothes," Rey stated. The Togruta waited for Rey to elaborate, but she wasn't sure what else to say. The alien eyed her appearance, taking in her oversized trousers and large shirt in a disapproving stare.
"Is there anything in particular you were wanting to try on?" Rey glanced around, not seeing anything that would work with the lifestyle she currently had.
"I'm, um... a very active person... I guess. I move around a lot, if that makes sense. Do you have anything that could work with that?"
The alien's demeanor straightened, looking eager to help her new customer. "We have a large line of active wear further back in the store. If you follow me, I can help you find something suitable to your needs." The Togruta navigated them through the maze of eccentric apparel, stopping once they reached the section of less bulky clothing.
"What is your chest measurement?"
Rey stared at the alien, perplexed by the question. "I'm not sure."
The Togruta looked a bit surprised, like Rey should know of something so trivial. "Well, no worries. We can measure you. What's your standard size in bottoms?" Rey was starting to feel uncomfortable as the Togruta asked her questions she had no clue how to answer.
So, she answered in the only way she knew how: honestly. "I actually don't know my size in anything. I don't really own many clothes," Rey quietly replied. The alien was perplexed, but tried to hide it so she didn't embarrass her new customer.
"That's all right, dear. Measuring only takes a few moments and then I can help you find a whole new wardrobe. How does that sound?"
Rey grinned, not being able to hide her excitement over owning something not already worn down. "Great, actually. I really need to get out of these clothes." The Togruta gave a hearty laugh, no doubt thinking the same thing.
The Togruta ushered her over to a space in the corner and pulled out a measuring tape. "My name is Okona Naa. I own and operate this store."
Okona wrapped the tape around Rey's middle, memorizing the measurements as she went. "I'm Rey."
After being measured, Okona guided Rey through the many different racks as she tried to explain what colors complimented each other and what the most popular styles were for that season. Really, Rey was lost during most of the conversation. What she always wore on Jakku was more for survival than it was for fashion, but Okona insisted that Rey wear the most posh active apparel in stock. As long as she didn't have to be in Ben's enormous clothes, Rey was open-minded with taking on a new look. The life she had led and the rags she'd worn belonged in the past. She very much wanted to bury those memories.
The Togruta's arms were full of outfits in a matter of minutes – all the while following Rey's request for nothing too flashy – and guided Rey to a dressing room. She went through all of the different shirts, not liking how easily they showed her midsection once she raised her arms. The capris weren't any better, in the sense that they didn't have a lot of give in the material. The last piece Rey had purposely set aside for last, appearing the most intimidating. It was the black sleeveless jumpsuit and it looked terrifyingly constricting. She was tempted to skip the outfit all together, but curiosity changed her mind when she wondered what she would look like in something black.
Rey's body slid inside the fabric, easily contouring to her slim figure. She zipped up the back and turned to see her reflection in the mirror. Her heart skipped, not knowing immediately whom she was staring at. Slowly, her eyes roamed over her body as if she was just discovering it for the first time. She marveled at her shape, the small curve of her hips, and the leanness of her strong legs. Her hands ran up her sides as she observed the strip of pleating running from below her arms, all the way down to her ankles.
To her amazement, the jumpsuit felt amazing against her skin. The fabric was breathable and it moved with her like it was a part of her body. And the color… she had to admit, she looked good in black, but she wanted to add something lighter to the outfit to balance it out.
She dug through the pile of garments, remembering that she'd seen a light blue vest. Her hand pulled it from the bottom and she swiftly put it on, knowing instantly that this is what the ensemble needed. As she just smiled at herself in the mirror, Okona came up to the room and asked if she'd found anything to her liking.
Rey stepped out and watched as the Togruta's shocked expression caused her mouth to slacken. "Wow. I didn't know that body was beneath those baggy clothes!" Okona positively beamed at her masterpiece.
To finish the look, Okona picked out a leather belt and knee high black boots, which Rey was grateful for. Her current shoes were extremely worn down and past their prime.
Against Okona's advice, Rey would only buy what she had on, which included the undergarments and new modernized chestwrap. It was odd to have the credits to pay for all it, having swiped Ben's credit chip while he'd been unaware. There was a pinch of guilt over stealing what was his, but his clothes were basically falling off of her and she needed something more sensible to train in. And it wasn't like she was going to spend an exorbitant amount of credits. Poe had said something about Ben being filthy rich, so what was a few hundred credits to him?
Ben wouldn't care about the money. No... what he would care about was that she snuck out and ventured into the city. But out of the thousands of planets in the galaxy, the probability of running into the First Order here was zero. Besides, Rey was a nobody and wasn't tied to the galaxy as much as Ben was. Her plan was simple: keep to herself and not make any trouble. It was one of the reasons she didn't bring her saber – nothing life-threatening was going to happen.
If Ben could see me now, he would lecture me for a week.
She almost laughed at the thought.
As she handed the credit chip to Okona, she grew nervous. Would it work? What if something was wrong with it? Luckily, the transaction went smoothly, leaving Rey to figure out what to do with her old attire.
"Would it be possible for you to hold onto these for me?" Rey asked. "I want to walk around the city for a bit, but don't want them to get in the way."
"That won't be a problem." Okona grabbed the bundle and placed them in a bag below the counter. "We do close right before dawn and won't open back up till two in the afternoon, but if you have to come back tomorrow for them, that should be fine." Rey thanked the Togruta, not just for holding onto the old clothes, but for helping her see just how beautiful she could actually be.
"It's one of the things I enjoy most about my job, dear. After spending all day tending to superficial people, you were a breath of fresh air." Rey smiled at the compliment. "If you ever need anything for your wardrobe, come back here. I would love to pick out some more things for you." They exchanged their farewells and Rey walked confidently out into the city.
A lot of time was spent ambling through various shops and watching a wide range of street performers. She was so fascinated by all the intricate jewelry she came across, but stopped herself from purchasing any. She did, however, buy a satchel that she attached to her belt. It was the simplest one out of the selection, which helped Rey justify having it. Besides, she always felt more comfortable having a place to store small items while she ventured around.
At one point, she stopped at a very large window, peering at the many different humans and humanoids being pampered in ways Rey never new was offered. Some were having their nails tended to, others were getting their hair washed and their scalps massaged. All of it looked tranquil and heavenly. Reys scalp itched for the treatment she was witnessing inside.
She knew she shouldn't and she did feel guilty, but she went inside and had her hair lathered and cleaned. It was glorious, the treatment instantly relaxing her. She asked for a singular braid and watched eagerly in the mirror as they listened to her request. When she was small, she had tried to braid her hair, but never could figure out how to keep it even and tight.
Rey's countenance positively glowed as she took in her new hairstyle, for she had only ever worn it in the three buns of her childhood or completely loose.
She hopped from shop to shop, not even feeling tired from being on her feet for what must have been hours. Something sweet caught her nose, and she followed the trail to a vendor selling a wide array of hot pies. Her stomach was grumbling, and she couldn't seem to tear her sight away from one of the desserts in particular. She bought an Almakian apple pie and sat at the edge of a fountain while she devoured the succulent pastry.
Then, her hairs stood on end. A small ping of pressure hit her mind. The Force became sharp and painful as each punch took her breath away. She was confused by what she was feeling, but before she could pinpoint the cause, her head exploded in immense pain. The remainder of the pie fell from her hands as she cradled her head, willing her vision to stay in focus.
It was him.
Ben had forced himself into her mind, more forceful and less graceful than he'd done on Starkiller base. He knew she was in the city, and her panic resonated through her fast paced heart. All she could do was sit there and experience his wave of emotions. It started off with immense alarm, then contemplation, before it ended in anger. He was absolutely livid and the fury was aimed all at her.
What do I do? Should I go back? But she didn't want Ben's frustration to end the journey she began. If Rey allowed his moods to affect her decisions, she would never do anything she wanted. There was more she needed to absorb from the city, so she decided to stay and work on blocking Ben out. But the more strength she put behind closing their connection, the more Ben would match it and then some.
A realization dawned on her: This whole time she thought she had privacy, but it had all been a lie. Ben knew how to open their bond whenever he damn well pleased. Rey's animosity toward him grew as that detail kept cycling through her mind.
Well, now her act of rebellion was solidified. She was staying in the city. Ben could stay on the ship and fume about it.
Music caught her attention. She followed it, the melody taking her to an open quad lined with vendors and people. Using instruments Rey didn't recognize, a small band was playing in the middle. She wondered over and stood in the group of onlookers. Her body swayed from side to side as she let the sound wash over her and propel her imagination off into a different life of tranquility and amazement.
Her eyes snapped open, looking at nothing in particular as she focused on Ben's presence. He was in the city. The one thing she thought he wouldn't do was come find her, but as clear as the ocean water, she could feel him within Khalon's walls.
Desperation grew within her as she sent Ben silent pleas to let her stay a little while longer, but he shot down her requests. In a matter of minutes, or seconds, he was going to find her. She didn't realize the music had stopped playing and that the crowd had dispersed. She'd been too lost in her thoughts. Then, she was moving, her feet guiding her around and around until she stopped in front of a display of jewelry. She memorized the pretty ornaments like it was the last time she would ever see them.
She felt Ben eyes on her, could sense him running right at her. She wheeled around to face him, not hiding the annoyed glint in her eyes as he towered over her. His hair was blown back from all the running he had endured, giving her a clear view his fanned out ears. "You shouldn't have come here," she told him vehemently. "I'm perfectly fine. Nothing has happened." It was difficult not to scream the words at him, but his intimidating stature and fury filled stare helped stop her from doing so.
"I shouldn't have come here? None of us should be here! You-." Ben's eyes grew wide as he shuffled back, looking over her new appearance. Rey didn't shy away from his roaming eyes, but instead held herself tall with all the confidence she could muster. Ben's stare was hungry and possessive, but it was soon replaced with urgency.
The grip on her arm was surprisingly gentle, but firm, as he grabbed her and dragged her through the quad. She pulled against him and protested, but he was unrelenting in letting her go. "What is wrong with you? I know I shouldn't have come here, but-."
He twisted around, glaring at her as he brought her body closer to his.
"That chip is linked to the First Order! They can track everything you bought to this city!" Rey was utterly floored by the new set of information. Admittedly, she knew very little about banking and money, but she sure as hell understood what it meant to be tracked. "We need to-." Ben twitched and caught something on his neck. He opened his palm as they both examined the dart and the faint trace of blood on the needle. Rey looked up in horror, watching Ben's eyelids become heavy while he fought to say something, but couldn't.
His knees buckled. Rey lunged to catch him around his middle, which turned out to be more complicated than she originally thought. His body was complete dead weight, and she fell to the ground with him, her head hitting hard against the stone. His body forced the air from her lungs. She attempted to shove him off of her, but settled on wiggling out from the side, rubbing the back of her skull.
People gave her and Ben odd glances, but other than that, they went about their business. Rey's brainwaves were tossed into a whirl of frenzy, as she had no idea what to do. The only plan that came to mind was to get them both to safety, wherever that may be.
Her body was already shaking from adrenaline as she stood, trying to grab Ben's arms and drag him anywhere but where they currently were. The innate sense to duck struck her mind and as she did so, a blaster bolt whizzed past her head and hit the cart behind her. That seemed to warrant everyone's attention as chaos ensued. More blaster bolts came at her as she inched Ben's body away from the mayhem.
Her head suddenly snapped in the direction of incoming fire, her mind freezing a blaster bolt mere inches from her face. She glanced past the blue streak of light and saw a woman off in the distance with a rifle pointed directly at her. For a long moment, they stared at each other, stunned by what had just happened. Rey had never commanded the Force to freeze anything, and she was confused as to where she had suddenly gained the knowledge. As she followed the steady stream of intelligence funneling into her mind, she found the source.
Ben. I'm getting the information from Ben. Rey squeezed his forearms, silently thanking him for not being completely unhelpful in his passed out state.
From just a single glance, Rey knew who the woman was and who she was after. A bounty hunter, hired by the First Order to find Kylo Ren and kill me if at all possible. It was like her mind downloaded the information from the bounty hunter, and Rey was in awe of the abilities she was absorbing from Ben; let alone the fact that Ben could do these things. What else could he do?
All of these thoughts zipped through Rey's mind in seconds, which was all the bounty hunter needed to regain her composure. The woman was about to fire her weapon as Poe darted through the throngs of panicked people and rammed right into her, sending the woman into the side of a food cart and the rifle scattering across the ground.
Rey saw the opening she needed and continued to drag Ben to the far side of the court, then stopped. What was she going to do with a man she couldn't even carry? She glanced up, seeing Poe wrestling to get his arms around the bounty hunter as she dove for her rifle. The woman was fast, but Poe seemed determined to catch her. Rey had to make a split second decision, and she hoped it was the right one.
She grabbed Ben's lightsaber from the confines of his belt and left him behind on the ground, running right into the middle of the scuffle. Rey kicked the unaware bounty hunter square in the back, causing the woman to hit the ground face first. "Poe! Grab Ben and get him out of here! Ill hold her off and meet you back at the ship." Poe was going to argue, but Rey cut him off. "He's too heavy for me to carry." The bounty hunter rolled onto her feet, eyeing her two opponents and the rifle that was out of reach.
Poe was torn between helping Rey and getting Ben, but in the end, he ran over to the unconscious body and flung the man over his shoulder. The woman darted after the weapon, but Rey grabbed her and tried to wrestle her to the ground. Rey glanced at Ben's limp body on Poe's shoulder as she pinned the woman against the stone, hoping she could give them enough time to flee.
The woman elbowed Rey in the face and pushed her away, frantically looking for her prize. The short joust with the bounty hunter had given Poe enough time to run into an alleyway and disappear around a corner, causing the woman to fume at Rey as she picked up the rifle.
Rey straightened her posture and squared off with the woman. With Ben's lightsaber in her grasp, she ignited it. The absolute terror that etched its way onto the bounty hunters face made Rey feel powerful beyond measure.
Right as Rey was becoming comfortable in the current situation, a dark ripple through the force caused her to look to her right. At one of the street openings stood a figure shrouded in black. His face was hidden behind a dark, checkered mask, his long A-line cloak adding bulk to his figure. Rey's eyes became glued to the sword in his hand as electricity sizzled out to cover the dark blade.
This man was a member of the Knights of Ren, a master swordsman whose talent arguably surpassed that of Ben's. Thankfully, Ben had dueled him before and knew his weak spots.
The knowledge flooded Rey's mind and calmed her fearful soul. As Rey and the knight sized each other up, the bounty hunter took the opportunity to sprint into a street entrance and disappear into the night. Rey contemplated going after her, but didn't want to turn her back on the formidable man.
Rey could feel the rough vibration of Ben's saber as it crackled with the excitement of battle. The knight charged, but halted from the sudden appearance of police flooding into the area. Rey disengaged the lightsaber and took this as a chance to bolt for one of the few open exits available. She didn't have time to see where the knight was as her focus was now on fleeing the officers and the town by any means necessary.
The empty streets revealed that most of the city had received the memo about a fight unfolding, wisely choosing to pile into the shops for safety. Dozens of human and alien eyes followed her as she sprinted past the windows, her legs beating against the stone walkaway and her arms pumping vigorously to accelerate her momentum.
The high duracrete wall that bordered the city came into view, and Rey headed straight for it. The sirens of the security guards rang into the humid air, warning her that they were quickly coming up from behind.
Now.
Rey propelled into the air by focusing her push from her feet and scaled the wall in the matter of seconds. Unfortunately, her landing was less graceful since her mind couldn't think fast enough. She had slowed her fall, but not to the degree that Ben could. Her body toppled across the grass and rolled right into a tree, halting her forward speed. Stunned, she stayed on the ground, using her mind to scan for bodily injury.
There were none.
Rey sprang onto her feet and ran in the general direction of the ship, all the while thinking what other neat little tricks Ben had in his Force repertoire.
Her satchel banged against her hip, her grip on the saber hilt slipping from sweat as she darted through the trees. She ran through bushes and pushed aside branches, feeling minute scrapes along her revealed upper arms.
Something omnipotent and foul in nature blossomed from the pit of her stomach and climbed all the way up into her mind. It was powerful and malevolent and it was trying to dig its wicked tendrils into her psyche. Rey kept running, focusing on keeping the monster at bay. Her mind couldn't process who was behind this feeling and keep them out at the same time, but the impression was familiar. Her anger, impatience and rage that had threatened her spirit throughout the day stemmed from this very being trying to take ahold of her.
Abruptly, her footing gave way and her cheek slid across the grass as the Force dragged her backward. She cut the connection off and spun to see the knight with his hand stretched out in her direction. He wasted no time in coming at her, and she ignited Ben's saber just in time to parry the onslaught of attacks. She could feel the heat emanating from the cross guard, and she wondered how Ben fought with the thing without cutting his hand off.
Rey struggled to extract the knowledge of how to use the crossguarded lightsaber while at the same time, trying to keep the pressure from clasping down on her mind. The knight was not as strong as Ben, nor was his stature as big, but he made up for it in precision.
Rey spun as she pivoted out of his advance and went on the offensive. She swung the saber in the air, spinning her body with it to gain more speed behind the strike. The knight backed against a tree and ducked away from her meticulous blow, causing her to cut through the wood and send it toppling to the ground.
Her head was pounding from the ongoing pressure, warning bells sounding off that she needed to get away from this man and back on the ship as fast as possible. Instead of aiming for the knight's upper body, she kept her strikes low since she knew the knight didn't train as much in blocking his legs. Well, technically, Ben was the one who knew that; she was just borrowing the information.
The saber swept at his thighs, barley skimming the surface of his skin. The knight hissed and immediately away, but Rey needed him completely out of the equation. Her arm shot out, and before the knight had a chance to block her, the immense push sent him flying over the tree line and into the far off distance.
Rey clipped Ben's saber to her belt and cradled her head as black streaks laced her vision. Rey's feet were taking her in what she thought was the direction of the ship, but she couldn't be sure. The sound of an engine echoed across the trees. She stopped, listening to it got closer. Her eyes squinted in the darkness, noticing a speeder on the trail up ahead.
Rey cried when she saw who was in the driver seat. "Poe!" The yell caused her head to explode, taking her breath away and making her fall to her knees. Her eyes felt like they were going to shoot out of their sockets, the pressure finally became too much to resist. One second, she was falling onto the grass and the next, she was standing in a place teeming of macabre colors of an ethereal nature, not knowing where to run to.
She became a hopeless wonderer in the sea of dread, but no matter what direction she walked, the violent shades didn't stop. A voice cut through the unknown place, sounding old and foreboding. "You'll die in this place, scavenger. Kylo Ren cannot hide you from me any longer. And once your body rots in the ground, he will return to me, complete and seeking my guidance." Rey covered her ears and squeezed her eyes shut, but she could still hear the insidious voice as clear as if it spoke right beside her. "I've been with him since he was in the womb, coaxing him into my perfect weapon. The power he possesses belongs to me, and the worthless desert rat that you are will not take my most valuable asset away from me."
Rey opened her eyes and desperately tried to run from the voice that clung to her awareness. "You do not know the depths of his depravity, the lengths he has scaled to manipulate the Force like no one before him has ever done. You will not cause his talent to go to waste." Rey was panting as she circled around, trying to find anything to stop the voice from speaking to her.
Nothing but color came into view. With hope now seeming to be nowhere in sight, she sank to her knees. "Ben is no longer your student," she whispered. A slick laugh came from the creature. Rey shivered from its vileness.
"Stupid girl. Kylo Ren has never been my student, but has always been my slave. Ben Solo is gone." A brilliant beam of energy exploded, causing the indecipherable hues to dissipate and Rey to cover her eyes. The monster hissed as it retreated into the depths, but Rey could still feel it simmering below.
Darkness, unlike any she had ever experienced, enveloped her.
"Rey," a calming voice whispered. It was the voice from the island, the young girl who had spoken to her. The one Rey had searched for, but couldn't find. "I've cast Snoke out, but his presence still remains. You must hold on, dear one."
"Please," Rey's voice croaked. "Help me."
"I cannot help you further, or he will find me. If that happens, you will be the one he seeks above all others. The need for your death will be as unrelenting as the Dark side that corrupts his soul." Rey couldn't stop from shaking, for she was afraid to stay in this black hole alone. She was a child again, wishing for her family to come rescue her from this nightmare.
"Ben will find you, Rey. You must hold onto your hope. He will not let you wither away in this abyss, nor will he ever forsake you to damnation." Rey curled into a small ball on the ground, or did this place even have a ground to lay on? Was she just floating or falling deeper into despair? Nothing made sense in this place, but she kept running the girls words through her thoughts.
She held onto the belief that Ben would come for her as she felt her light dwindle away and the darkness robbed her of all her senses.
()()()()()
Poe ran back to where they left the speeder, feeling Ren's weight compound onto his knees. They guy was heavy. And broad. And a lot. On top of carrying a durasteel house on his shoulder, the general populace was either running into the shops or making their way toward the city exit, causing traffic.
He threw Ren into the passenger seat and hopped behind the controls. "Shit," Poe clipped out. The speeder required a passcode. His fingers twitched over the numerical pad as he thought back to when he had watched Ren enter in the string of numbers. It took Poe three attempts, but he eventually punched in the right sequence and the engine came to life.
Yelling at the chaotic crowd, he backed up and swerved between the pedestrians. His patience was wearing thin, driving him to seriously consider hitting the civilians. He held it together, finally making it through the gates with his conscience intact.
Poe took the same route back, every so often glancing at Ren to see if he was waking up or not. No such luck. The guy was completely out and useless at the worst possible time.
The more distant he put between him and the city, the more Poe worried about leaving Rey behind. But he knew switching goals had been the right call. Rey was strong and she sure could fight, but there was no way she could have gotten Ren out of there. Hell, even he had had a difficult time carrying the dead weight to the speeder.
Drop Ren off at the ship. Go back for Rey, Poe thought. Wherever she might be.
He made it back to the ship without difficulty and proceeded to lug Ren up the ramp and into the cargo bay. He stared at the ladder, knowing full well that there was no way he could climb that with Ren on his shoulders. The body would for sure slip from his grasp and fall to the floor, maybe causing a serious injury to Ren's cranium.
One second thought, maybe a few blows to the head would cure the guy of being a psychopath. But Poe knew that if he caused intentional harm to the prick, Rey would be pissed.
He groaned out his annoyance and thought of a different way up. He recalled seeing a lifting ramp off to the right and what do you know, it was indeed there.
Poe stepped onto the platform and initiated the lift mechanism, immediately realizing why it was never used. The ramp creaked and groaned and tortuously slow. Poe wondered if they were going to make it to the top before the coming of a new year.
Sparks flew next to his head as a barrage of fire fled into the cargo bay. Poe flattened onto the platform, taking his pistol out to return fire. The bounty hunter from the city was leaning in from the outside of the ship, trying to get a good shot. Poe decided he wouldn't give her the chance.
He held his finger on the trigger, making the woman hide behind the ship as Poe hopped down onto the cargo bay floor. He twisted around the corner and pushed her rifle up into the air just as it fired. The woman kicked him directly in the groin and rifle whipped him across the face, sending him to the ground. Poe stared down the barrel of the weapon and waited for the end, but it never came. The woman cursed at her malfunctioning rifle, but seemed content into repurposing it into a bludgeoning weapon.
After two strikes to the stomach, Poe grasped onto the barrel and pulled the woman to the ground. They started to wrestle for dominance, Poe finding it difficult to get his arms around her agile body so he could knock her out. The bounty hunter swung onto his back and wrapped a thin rope around his neck, pulling back to restrict his breathing.
Poe lifted them off the ground and rammed backward into the side of the ship, but the woman did not budge. Her feet were hooked around his middle and her strength was not letting up. He tried grabbing her head behind him, but she was leaning away from his reach.
Poe remembered the small utility knife he always kept on him in case he needed to fix or tinker something on his X-Wing. His hand dipped into his pocket and he unsheathed the thin blade. The burning in his lungs was becoming unbearable and he needed to do this before he passed out.
With the last of his strength and desperation, he rammed the woman against the side of the ship again, causing her head to snap forward to his right. With his left hand, he grabbed a fistful of her hair to keep her in place and then jabbed the knife into her neck, one, two, three.
The pressure on his neck disappeared. Poe gasped for air and fell to the ground, rubbing his tender neck. He pivoted around, eyeing the bounty hunter. Blood was gushing from between her fingers as she futilely tried to stop the bleeding. Horror showed in her eyes as she realized she was going to die, and Poe's wide gaze found it impossible to look away. He listened to her choke on her own blood and watched as the woman violently drifted off, until there was no life behind the pupils that pierced him.
Everything had unfolded so fast that the only mission in his thoughts had been all about survival. He'd won and he had killed his opponent, but his mind couldn't wrap his head around how brutal a death he had personally inflicted onto someone. He's never killed a person like that before - let alone a woman - and he could feel himself on the brink of drowning under a sea of self-loathing.
Somewhere off to his right, he heard the loud thump of a tree falling in the forest.
Rey.
He needed to pull himself together and find her.
Poe jumped into the speeder and went in the direction of the noise. After winding through the trees, he came upon a dirt road that made navigation go more smoothly.
"Poe!"
He hit the brakes and looked to his left. He could faintly see Rey's outline as she grabbed her head and fell to the ground. Poe ran through the trees, kneeling at Rey's side to inspect what was wrong with her. Her body didn't seem to have any injuries. But she was out like a light.
What the hell is going on? Why is everyone dropping unconscious?
Poe was now in full panic mode as he realized both Rey and Ren were down for the count. He needed to get them out of here, preferably with everyone alive. Always a good goal to have.
Back at the ship, Poe maneuvered both Rey and Ren into the cockpit, having both their bodies lay next to each other on the floor behind the seats. The engines came to life and Poe was about to chart a course for the Resistance base, but paused. If they went back, Ren would definitely be locked away and put on trial for his war crimes. There was no doubt the guy would be executed... but Poe wasn't sure if that was the right call to make anymore. Poe had a gut feeling that something very important was going on between Rey and Ren. He wasn't Force sensitive, but he didn't need it to have a good sense of intuition and right now, it was telling him not to go back to the base.
Poe cursed and proceeded to scan the area for the next closest planet they could hide on. He lifted the ship into the air, deciding to shoot directly up into the planet's atmosphere. Deep groans were came from behind. Poe glanced over his shoulder to see Ren rubbing his head and trying to open his eyes.
Great. Now he wakes up.
Upon exiting the atmosphere, a First Order Star Destroyer came out of hyperspace, but Poe was already activating the hyperdrive before any shots were fired. He put the rest of the ship on low power mode to save fuel and then braced himself for a very groggy and moody Kylo Ren.
()()()()()
Ren's back was lying against something cold and hard and unfamiliar. He brought his heavy hands up to his face, tried to talk, but all he could get out of his mouth was a long groan. His head was dizzy and he felt extremely nauseous as he remembered the events leading up to his blackout.
"Rey!" he yelled out. He darted upright and immediately regretted it. Blood rushed out of his head and vomit climbed his esophagus as he closed his eyes to center himself. Hands grasped the sides of his arms to help him sit up and not fall over.
"You might want to take it easy for a bit," Poe told him. Ren opened his eyes and glared at the man, making him release his grip and sit back against the rear of the seat. Poe's line of sight fell onto the floor next to Ren. He followed it to discover Rey unconscious on the floor.
"No, no, no..." Ren grabbed her by the shoulders, bringing her head up to cradle against his chest. He placed her across his lap, holding her as if she were a small child. Poe looked at him curiously. Ren didn't care. Let him stare.
Ren gazed at her longingly. The moment reminded him of when he had cradled her aboard his command shuttle after Takodana. A fresh scent wafted into his nose and he quickly realized it was coming from her braided hair.
Her features were peaceful and she could be mistaken for being in a deep sleep, but Ren knew better. The Dark side surrounded her mind, preventing Ren from delving inside. Ren was all too familiar with the dark signature. This was his master's doing. Rey had felt differently to him all day, and the reason why had been so obvious that Ren scolded himself for not seeing it sooner.
Their connection. Snoke had used it to get to her. Ren hadn't even noticed.
"Is she going to be okay?"Poe asked. "She doesn't seem to be hurt, but she won't wake up."
Ren pounded against the shadowy barrier, finding that he was not strong enough to break through. Snoke had done something similar to him in his early days of training, to test if his apprentice could escape the heavy mind lock. Ren had been unconscious for two days before creating a way out. He'd been so weak upon waking, two stormtroopers had to help him back to his room. He'd never known thirst or hunger like that before.
Poe let out an impatient breath. "Do you know what's wrong with her?"
Ren leaned his head against the metal wall, keeping his wide palm on Rey's cheek. "She's trapped within her own mind."
Poe's countenance took on a pinch bewilderment. "Can't you go in there and get her out or something?"
"No. The barrier is already embedded too deep."
Poe blinked, trying to understand the situation. "Okay... so she needs to find a way out on her own, then."
Ren shook his head. "She won't know how to do that." He needed to figure out a way to fix this, but all the ideas that came to mind wouldn't work.
"So... what?" Poe's pitch rose out of frustration. "You're just going to leave her like this? You're not going to do anything?"
"No." Ren snapped at the insolent man. "I'm trying to think of a way to help her. Maybe if you quit talking, I could concentrate."
Poe glowered at Ren. "Maybe if you let me in on what exactly is going on, I could help."
He scoffed at the idea. "If I'm having trouble thinking of a solution, I doubt you'll be able to come up with one either."
Poe leaned forward as his face scrunched up in anger. "Look man, I think I've been more than patient with all this mumbo-jumbo Force crap and not knowing exactly what's going on between the two of you, which merits some give and take here." Ren remained silent as Poe's frustration escalated. "You don't want to tell me the specifics, fine. But at least let me try and help you with whatever the fuck this–" he motioned at Rey "–is. I think we can both agree that neither of us want to see her get hurt."
Ren was tired, tired from the drugs in the dart. So tired that he was seriously considering what Poe had just proposed. The man knew little about the Force, but he wasn't an idiot.
Ren took a deep breath. "I'm not strong enough to get through the block around her mind." Admitting to the pilot that he was too weak to rectify the situation made him feel uneasy.
Poe looked at Ren intently and slowly shook his head. "So even you have your limits?"
Ren gave the pilot a flat stare. "Everyone has their limits, but these drugs aren't helping me regain my strength any faster."
Poe rubbed his chin as he concentrated. "Okay… Is there anyone you know who could help her? An ally or, and I know this is a stretch, a friend?"
One name came to mind. "Skywalker. Possibly. I don't know," Ren stated quietly as he looked up at the ceiling.
"I can reroute us to the base if that is what you want to do."
Ren glanced at the pilot, perplexed. "We aren't headed there now?"
The pilot shrugged. "I was tempted, but I do trust Rey and... a gut feeling told me not to." Ren was shocked that Poe didn't take the chance to go back to the base. Before he could stop it, his respect and trust in the man grew a little bit more. "Finding your uncle should probably be our last option, though." Ren nodded in agreement. "Is there any way you could, I don't know, get more power from somewhere?"
"I could take Force energy from someone who's strong in the Force."
"Okay... but there's not many of those around anymore. Skywalker's school–" Poe paused, realizing what he was about to say. "Well, it isn't around anymore... which you'd know."
Ren almost laughed at the irony. By slaughtering the students at the academy, he had damned the only person he would ever genuinely care about. Force sensitives were rare, and the ones Ren knew had all been at the school.
"Too bad you don't have any cousins or close family friends who– "
"Maz," Ren stated, mouth slacking in shock.
Poe arched a brow upon hearing the name. "Who?" Ren locked eyes with the pilot. "Wait, the little pirate lady who ran the cantina on Takodana? The bar that you destroyed?"
"I didn't exactly order Maz's castle to be destroyed."
"I bet you didn't try to stop it either."
True.
"You think she'll help?" Ren asked.
"Honestly, if you destroyed my livelihood, I wouldn't even be open to hearing what you had to say."
Ren sifted a trembling hand through his hair. "That's not the only reason she would refuse. Her and–" he took a deep breath of pause "–Han Solo were friends."
Realization formed on Poe's face. "Please tell me you're kidding."
"Nope."
"Well… not many people know about what actually happened on Starkiller base."
Ren waited for Poe to elaborate, but it seemed he needed a nudge. "What do you mean?"
Poe shifted on the cockpit floor, bringing his legs halfway up to his chest and resting his forearms on his knees. "Only a handful of people know how Han really died. Before General Organa had sworn us to secrecy, I found out the truth from Rey as we sat by Finn when he was in a coma. So, as far as I'm aware, the only people who know the truth is Finn, Rey, Chewie, Skywalker, Admiral Statura, your mother, and me. Oh, and Doctor Kalonia."
Upon hearing Harter's name, Ren's thoughts were instantly propelled back to his life as Ben Solo. A time where he'd been young and full of dreams. After school, he would stop by Harter's clinic and bombard her with so many questions about medicine that it perplexed him to this day how it never annoyed her. She always answered all of his inquiries with patience. Would even let him sit in on the surgeries she would perform. They would talk about the age-old argument of whether a human surgeon was better than the robotic ones and they always agreed that nothing could rival the efficiency of the human touch. He had always looked up to Dr. Kalonia and secretly, he had always wished that Harter had been his mother.
Ren tossed the sentimental memories aside and focused on the fact that only a handful of people new the truth about Han's death. But Maz didn't need the word of mouth to know what had happened. "Maz will know about Han's death through the Force. It won't matter who knows or who doesn't. She'll probably try to kill me if she ever sees me again."
Poe shrugged. "How about we beg her to hold off on trying to kill you until after we figure out how to wake Rey." Ren's eyes pinched at Poe. "Hey, its either Maz or Skywalker. Take your pick or I will."
In the end, the decision wasn't a difficult one to make.
Poe rerouted them to Takodana as Ren carried Rey to his quarters, gently placing her on his bed. He knelt beside her and took her hand into his. His saber was attached to her belt, which confused him. Hopefully, Rey would be able to explain to him how she came in possession of it. He took the saber hilt and clasped it back to his side.
No matter how hard Ren concentrated or how much of his strength he put behind his push, the barrier wouldn't budge. If he couldn't get inside her mind, her body would eventually crack under the immense pressure, causing her heart to give out. He could already sense her getting weaker.
Poe entered the room, placing something next to Ren on the floor. It was a glass of water, dehydrated meat, and some packets of rations. He glanced over his shoulder to see the pilot sit against the wall by the door, eating his own portion of food he'd brought for himself.
Ren settled himself on the floor, relishing in the glass of water and starting on the rations. Poe was watching him, and Ren nodded his head in silent gratitude because there was no way he was actually going to say the words "thank you" to the guy.
"How did you get taken out back in the city?" Poe asked in between bites.
"A Lecepanine dart." Ren had recognized the sophisticated weapon in his palm before he passed out. Someone had gone to great lengths to make sure he was incapacitated since Lecepanine darts were a rare commodity.
Poe pounded his chest as he tried not to choke on his mouthful of food. "And you're already conscious? That should have knocked you out for a full day."
"There are ways around it." If you're Force sensitive.
Poe took a few more bites of his rations as the ship hummed in hyperspace. Ren was comfortable with the silence, but he knew the pilot didn't like it as much. "You know what you're doing to Rey is selfish, right? Having her stay with you?" Ren stopped eating and gulped down what remained in his mouth. Selfish was a strong word, especially since Rey was the one who asked him to leave with her.
Ren leaned against the bed as he crossed his legs in front of him. "She made the decision to stay. I never asked her."
Poe's eyebrow's shot up. "You never stopped her either, which you should. Exactly what is your plan here? You and Rey gonna go live somewhere remote and forget what's happening to the galaxy? What you caused to happen?" The air grew tense as the two men stared at one another. Ren never put much thought into what was the next step for him and Rey, mostly because he knew what he wanted he could never have. Deep down, he always knew he would never be able to outrun Snoke for very long. Pretending over the past few days that he could had been one of the greatest lies he had ever told himself.
Poe laughed into the still air as he measured Ren's annoyed face. "You have absolutely no idea what you're doing, do you?" The silence confirmed what Poe had suspected. "Wow."
Ren's irritation finally snapped. "And what exactly should I do, huh?" His voice was harsh as his control tipped over his threshold of self-control. "What would you do if you were in my situation? I can't return to the First Order since I'm now a traitor. Sure, Snoke won't kill me, but he'll put me through so much torture, I won't even know who I am anymore. I already lived through that kind of training years ago and I have no intention of going through that again. Ever. I can't..."
The pilot remained still, bracing himself in case Ren's anger turned physical.
"Oh," Ren continued, "but you probably want to bring up how I can go to the Resistance, like those people would actually strike a deal with me. I know you know I would be executed. There's no way you're daft enough to think otherwise. And, yeah, I probably do deserve capital punishment according to Resistance standards, but I won't be the only person to die at my execution."
Poe cocked his head at the unusual declaration. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Ren rolled his eyes, glancing at the ceiling. "You want to know what's going on between Rey and I?" Ren knew he should keep his mouth shut, but he had this innate need for the pilot to understand just a sliver of what was going on. He was getting pretty fed up with hearing Poe complain every five minutes that he was lost.
"We're bonded through the Force," Ren said, tone becoming soft. "It's a connection so deep and profound, that if one of us dies, the person left standing would be a fraction of who they were before." Ren sighed, shaking his head. "Up until now, I didn't put much thought into my own mortality. If I were to die in some battle or by being stabbed in the back by one of my knights, well, at least the hell I've been living the last twenty-nine years would be over. But now... I have to worry about what would happen to Rey if I'm gone... and that concern is suffocating."
It took a few moments for Poe to collect himself before speaking. "You're not concerned with what will happen to you if she dies?"
Kylo scoffed at the ridiculousness of the question. "I'm already fucking unhinged; I don't see how much worse I could become." Ren wiped his face, trying to calm his rattled demeanor. Opening up to people was... difficult. There was a slight tinge of embarrassment from doing so with Poe, but he still wanted the man to answer his question. "So tell me, pilot, what would you do if you were in my situation?" Poe's eyes roamed around the room as he could find the answer written on the walls. The ships vibrations filled the room as Ren waited for Poe's reply.
Poe shook his head out of exasperation. "I don't know, man. The connection you have with Rey complicates things."
"Yes. It does. It-." Ren's spine straightened as he felt an insidious tingle shoot up his spine. He turned to see a single tear streak down Rey's temple, but her face remained void of emotion. The viper within her was poisoning her blood, and Ren could smell the stench of evil starting to seep through her pores. If this goes on for too long, he won't be able to help her... no matter how much power he took from Maz.
"What was that?" Poe whispered.
Ren spun around to stare at the pilot in surprise. "You felt that?"
Poe stood up, glancing at Rey in fear. "Did that come from her?" He walked over and stooped down to study Rey's face.
"The barrier is rooting itself deeper," Ren explained. "It'll make it harder for me to get her out of there."
"Who did this to her?"
"Snoke. He used the connection we have to find her. The drugs I was under made it so I couldn't shield her. I mean, I didn't even know I was protecting her from him, but since I've been shielding myself, I must have also been shielding Rey without knowing. Once I was knocked out, Snoke saw an opening and he took it."
"Is this what the bastard always feels like?" Poe was glaring straight at Rey, but Ren knew the hard look wasn't for her.
"You're only getting a small sense of it, but yes."
"I don't understand how you can be around such a creature."
To Ren, feeling this sense of hopelessness was all too familiar and he was used to it by now. But for Poe, he had clearly never felt such darkness.
"I have felt this my whole life. It doesn't affect me anymore." Poe's eyes grew large in disbelief, but didn't ask Ren to elaborate further. He could tell Poe wanted to leave the room, but the man stayed out of duty to watch over Rey.
The emotions littering the living quarters made the pilot suddenly think of a recent memory, one that even surprised Ren of it contents.
"You killed a woman," Ren said, shuffling through the surface of Poe's thoughts. "Just before we left Spira." Color drained from Poe's face and he looked away, ashamed of what he had done. "The bounty hunter was going to kill you. You shouldn't feel shame or guilt."
Poe's throat bobbed up and down as he swallowed, remembering the feeling of stabbing the woman's neck. His blade had been dull and he could feel the woman's skin breaking as the knife damned her to her fate. "I've never killed a person like that before."
"As long as the person dies, how you do it really doesn't matter."
Poe shot Ren a look he was all too familiar with: disgust. "I watched her suffer as she died. People shouldn't die that way…"
Ren arched a brow as he realized he used to believe the same as him.
A thought spilled into his mind that was not his own, but belonged to Poe. "You've never killed a woman before?" Ren asked. Poe's fists tightened in his lap as he focused his attention back on Rey's face. "Gender shouldn't be a factor when someone is trying to kill you. Sooner or later, you get used to taking the lives of others."
"I don't want to get used to it." The pilot didn't seem to realize how he was a walking contradiction. He had had no problems with shooting down tie fighters and blowing up Starkiller base, causing the deaths of thousands of people. But he had one fight with a female bounty hunter and that was when he started to unravel and think of his morals? Ren wasn't very fond of people with double standards.
"You either kill people indiscriminately, or you abstain from it," Ren told him. "There is no middle."
"Yeah, you would say something like that. But I guess you're used to it, aren't you," Poe stated more than questioned as he turned his head to measure Ren's expression. "You mocked Lor San Tekka before killing him, and then ordered the whole village to be massacred." Ren didn't know what response the pilot was hoping for, but if he wanted to get into a fight, he was heading in the right direction. "How could a decision like that come so easily to you? Why did you do it?"
Ren considered his answer carefully, but no matter what he ended up saying, Poe was not going to like it. He always prided himself for his honesty, so that was exactly what he was going to give the man. "That village was secretly affiliated with the Church of the Force, an extremist organization that believed in the ideals of the Jedi and the hopeful return of their power. I was tasked to never allow the Jedi to thrive, so the people there needed to die, causing any knowledge they held of the Light side of the Force to perish with them. They were also harboring a fugitive I'd been after for quite some time. They broke the law." Ren had faltered before giving the order to kill all the villagers, but he knew that they would die later on after they all were arrested anyway. It was better to not let them wait for death, but to get it over with. In his mind, he'd been merciful.
Poe's face was turning red, and Ren could sense the guy struggling to hold back his fists. "The law according to you. The New Republic didn't view their existence as being illegal."
"The New Republic didn't have much dominion over the galaxy then. The First Order had more recognition of being the true law and order of the galaxy. Their laws are what I follow."
Poe crossed his arms over his chest to keep himself from doing something foolish. "And what of Lor San Tekka? He was important enough to bring in for questioning, but you killed him anyway. Didn't seem like a sensible move."
Ren ran his hand through his hair, remembering his err in judgment when he had killed the old man. San Tekka had more than likely seen the map, but Ren's anger over his lineage being brought into the conversation made him think irrationally. "That had been… personal."
"So does that make the slaughtering of men and women just "business" to you?"
"That's the business I'm in, so yes. That is what it is to me."
Poe studied Ren's complacent expression like he was searching for something. "No. No... there's no way that murdering and torturing people doesn't bother you anymore. If it didn't, Rey would be dead. You left the First Order for her, the very organization you idolize. And because of that, there has to be a sliver of your humanity somewhere behind your screwed up ideals."
Well… that caught Ren off guard.
Poe stood, shaking his shoulders as if he could just brush off the insightful conversation they just had. "I'm gonna wash up and get some rest. You should do the same, while you still can." The pilot strode out of the room, not looking back at the monster he left behind.
Ren sat on the floor for a little longer, feeling numb as his thoughts cycled through everything that had happened over the last four days and the chat he had with Poe. It was all too much to process. Granted, he had the time to evaluate it all, but he couldn't will himself to do so.
Later. I'll think about it later once Rey is awake and well.
Poe was right about one thing: he should get as much rest as possible before reaching Takodana. He crawled over Rey and situated himself next to her. He was crammed against the metal wall as he tried to give her as much space as possible. But the need to touch her was too much. He interlaced his fingers with hers in an effort to comfort her, which was trivial since she was unaware of her outside surroundings. In the end, the touch was probably more for his benefit than it was for hers. Maybe... maybe he needed support, some consolation that everything was going to be okay.
He studied the freckles on her face, the elegant curve of her lips as he drifted off to sleep….
"Ren," a voice whispered. A hand on his shoulder nudged him back and forth. "Ren." His eyes fluttered opened. Poe was leaning down into the bunk, staring at him intently. "We're here." The pilot inquisitively glanced down at Ren's hand that was interlocked with Rey's, but didn't say anything. "How is she?"
Ren rubbed the grogginess from his eyes and then placed his free hand on Rey's face, cupping her cheek. More of his strength had returned while he slumbered, allowing him to focus on Rey's well being with more precision. Ren's heart sunk through the ship. Rey's state had worsened over the span of a few hours. Her lips were void of color and her heartbeat was erratic, her body trying to work off a disease that was more mental than it was physical. She was in a suspended state of torture and Ren could sense her body starting to shut down.
Ren shook his head. Poe sighed, knowing they were running out of time.
Ren climbed out of the bunk and scooped Rey into his arms, holding on tighter than necessary. He walked out of his quarters, making his way to the cargo bay.
"I saw Maz walking toward the ship before I came to get you," Poe said. Ren's steps faltered, but he quickly regained his stride. He was really going to do this – he was going to confront Maz Kanata, one of Han Solo's longest friends.
Leaping over the bars of the over hang, Ren slowed his descent to land softly on the hard floor. Before he questioned his decision, he commanded the ramp to lower. Light flooded into the cargo bay and he could see the blue sky behind the numerous green trees that littered the landscape. The ramp hit the ground with a thud, revealing the obliterated fragments of the once peaceful castle, but Ren's eyes didn't roam over it for long. Right in the middle of the wreckage stood a small woman with large circular glasses and orange skin. Maz's glare was fixed on Ren, her animosity for him more than palpable.
With a deep breath and a sturdy resolve, Ren ambled down the ramp and headed straight for her.
A/N
Well Jedi Kay-Kenobi, Poe did show up to haul Ren's ass out of there! I decided to have a random bounty hunter find them first so they could realize that anyone could be an enemy, not just the ones they were already familiar with.
So I do realize that not much Reylo is going on with this chapter, but Rey needs to realize just how powerful Snoke is and her being unconscious gave Poe and Ren some much needed time to actually talk to one another. Ren's relationship with Rey is really important to the story, but Ren's character needs to evolve to let other people into his life as well.
Anyway, if you are in the mood, please leave a review or follow the story! Thanks so much for reading!