AUTHOR'S NOTE: I'm so, so sorry for the late upload! I'll try to upload more frequently.

DISCLAIM: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS

Please Enjoy

Chapter 5: Eating Out of Their Hand

. . .

Commander Kylo Ren had left the room briefly, summoning food service to cater Rey's room, and then he returned, resting upon the stool he claimed earlier. Moments later, Rey's silver platter of food had arrived.

A chambermaid in signature garb had carried the tray and carefully placed it upon the table where Kylo Ren sat.

When the lid was lifted, a thick cloud of steam lifted into the air and filled it with a delectable smell that went straight to Rey's stomach.

The platter was adorned with a thick piece of meat to which she had only seen in books, a bed of green, stalk-like plants rested on its side, and a slice of buttered bread on the other. Beside the plate rested a metal, geometrically shaped flagon with two steel, long-necked glasses, to which she assumed was wine. The maid was waved away by Kylo's finger, and they were left alone again.

Rey's eyes glistened at the marvel before her, in her years, this single plate became a feast.

"Please, eat." Kylo Ren insisted.

This meal, this banquet before her… Food from the enemy… She thought… Literally eating out of their hand… Just eat, you need your strength...

"I'm sure you're had nerf before," he claimed, "You didn't specify what you liked."

"I don't know what nerf is," She stated firmly, placing herself carelessly into the chair across from her adversary, "But I'm sure it's delicious."

In a second, Rey vigorously picked up the slab of meat with her hand, and forced it into her mouth, taking a bite that Kylo Ren would have seen from some feral beast. Rey's other fist landed on the bread slice, and when the chunk of meat inside her mouth was entirely consumed, the bread became her next victim of choice.

He disregarded the sight before him, putting aside the ravenous noises she began to make as she inhaled the remainder of her meat, and began pouring the two glasses of wine. He admittedly poured hers higher than his, sliding her glass towards her and keeping his own. He picked up his glass and lifted it to his chin, it was here that he had forgotten he was wearing his mask. He placed it back on the table, thankful Rey didn't see.

Snatching the wine off the table, she swallowed her bread before chasing it down, gulping heartedly.

"You know," Ren began, watching Rey's plate get smaller and smaller, "You were purposefully provided with utensils. Some were made with steel far superior than the ones we use to craft this ship's exterior, I think you know that already though."

Another hunk of meat vanished into Rey's gullet, she managed to breathe in between bites and release, "Then you should know…" She chewed, swallowed, breathed, "Your ship's exterior would be worthless on Jakku, you'd probably only get one quarter portion if you came back with a cruiser full of outer frame." She ripped into another chunk of her nerf steak.

"I'm to guess that's your currency from where you're from."

"Not exactly," She chewed, swallowed, breathed, "In Niima Outpost, you get what you can from ships, take it back to the post, and whatever worth you'd bring back to Plutt, he'd give you in portion packs."

"I see…" He responded, watching her finish the rest of her nerf slice.

"Also," She responded mid-chew, "If I were to scavenge this ship, I wouldn't go for the ship's outer frame… I'd go for the computer panelling, or the kitchen. Copper wires and computer hardware are much, much more valuable and useful, and most ships are loaded with portion packs, since they're meant to last… Where does this meat from, it's delicious." Rey took little notice of her blathering mouth, too enthralled with her euphoric food coma approaching.

"Commanding officers and generals have their own private stash of refreshments. We also have a wine cooler and a greenhouse on board where we grow our own food. That's also a fine wine you're drinking, probably worth more 'portion packs' than you have ever seen. You'd be wise to take-."

"I think I can handle it…" She grumbled, finishing the rest of the red fluid. He wanted her to slow down on the wine, probably for good reason. It was strong, and very, very dry. It left her mouth urging for a sip of water to wash it down, but she refused to give him any leverage.

With a groan satisfied, she slumped back into her chair and smacked the crumbs and grease off her hands, feeling bloated and full for the first time in years. As she looked upon her empty plate, she felt his eyes upon him.

She stopped herself to take a glance outside the window, the sun had partially emerged to the side of the ship, allowing a ray of light to beam across the black carpet.

"Tell me more about yourself," The man before her inquired, "Tell me more about Jakku."

Rey noticed how interested he seemed, perhaps he was demanding more information from her regarding her abilities. An empirical man such as Kylo Ren should only be interested in beauty, and whatever it means to be a proper lady, after this previous meal, surely there was no hope for that. Anything Rey would tell him about her life on Jakku would surely bore him.

Licking her fingers purposefully, she answered with her smacking lips, "Why are you asking me? You should just go there yourself, you have the resources to go wherever you want."

"Not exactly," He added, "I still have an army to lead and the Resistance on my back."

Rey hummed, ready to fire back with a smart comment from her arsenal, "That must get so tiresome, fending off an army that's sworn to destroy everything you've corrupted." She kept her guard up fiercely, but her tone came off more sarcastic than she liked.

"It keeps things interesting," He inquired without a missing beat, "You seem to know your way around a ship."

His compliment made her shiver, with this, she wholeheartedly took the pitcher from the table, swiftly doing so as to keep her distance. As she poured another glass, she thought of a risky comeback, "Worried I'll know my way out of this dump?"

"No," He answered immediately, surely expecting that comeback, "But if that were the case, I'd have to keep an eye on you more frequently, and that could be arranged."

As she finished pouring her full glass, then placed the pitcher down in defeat.

"No, I'm already claustrophobic enough in this place. I don't need any more people crowding me or dressing me or Heaven knows what else..." She slumped back into her chair more heavily than she wanted, the effects of this drink were already taking effect. She had not thought this through... I have to try and keep a clear head... This was a mistake.

"I take it you don't like your accommodations then?"

"I don't like being interrogated by strange men on a planet-killing machine, if that's what you mean," She snapped more obnoxiously than she thought, subconsciously taking another sip from her glass. "So why don't we just cut to the chase and you tell me why I'm here."

He said nothing in this moment, his cold, glazed shield peered at her deeply from across the table. Rey couldn't help but feel entirely judged at this moment, this man, who could do anything he wanted in this very room was staring completely blank with unreadable eyes. She felt her shield crack underneath this pressure.

"You're more valuable here than on Jakku," He stated firmly, his tone significantly changed, "Your talents are needed here. You'll be repairing our TIE Fighter Jets as a member of the First Order, under my employment."

"What..." Her lips allowed only this word to escape, the glass nearly fell from her hand, and her heart sunk deep into her stomach.

"Other than that," He continued, the same cold, commanding tone that began to frighten her, "You'll be my guest. This room, your chambermaids, the clothes you wear and the food you eat, all yours... A life of luxury..."

Kylo Ren rose from his seat, and whether it was from this new information or the effects of this wine, Rey thought he nearly touched the ceiling upon his long frame. He took long steps to her bed, she watched him carefully as he ran his long, black fingers against the fine comforter. "A warm bed," He continued, his gaze became fixed upon her, "A lifetime of protection from The First Order..."

She wanted to cry.

Her eyes began to water, but she stopped them.

These were true, each word that left his lips was a life she had always desired, clothes and fine beds meant little... But food, work, protection... It was only a step away.

"And if I refuse?" Her mind spoke aloud for her, she felt her nose soften, she couldn't help but sniffle. "What then?"

His steps brought him back to Rey, each one brought his shadow deeper upon her, she averted her eyes, afraid of his gaze or what his next choice of words may be. "You won't refuse." He answered firmly, "Rey..."

He beckoned to her, and for that moment, Rey's heart began to pound at his call. In that same moment, she felt a large, gloved hand find itself under her chin, lifting gently.

She couldn't escape him, and her tears trickled down her cheeks.

"There's nothing left for you on Jakku," His voice was soft, but it was no more comforting to Rey, "You scrounge and search for your survival..." His thumb swiped over a fresh tear upon her jaw, "Let me give this to you."

It was here when Rey had realized she'd fallen farther into this trap than she could escape. She had dressed in his clothes, drank his wine, walked on his carpets, and now she had put herself at the very end of his whim. She felt her mind begin to wander in and out of reality as she wondered if he had slipped something into the wine she had so carelessly engulfed, which surely, he was expecting.

Still, any bit of resistance, no matter how small, could be worth something in this power struggle...

"No," She swatted his hand away, harder than she anticipated. The chair beneath her scraped across the hard floor as she pushed it from underneath of her, swiftly stepping away from her opponent to the edge of the bed. She was desperate for distance, and she noticed how cold the air had become as her elbow hit the side of her thin bedpost. Rey felt his cold stare through the film of his mask, but she refused to let her fear show. "I don't need your handouts, I didn't ask for 'em," her words began to slur, "You don't know me... I was happy on Jakku!"

"You could be happy here," He tried to entice quietly, struggling to keep his grip upon her, "I told you that was an expensive wine for a reason..."

Something inside of her snapped, and a full wave of rage washed throughout her body. She balled her fists into mallets, ready to strike.

She glared cautiously against her opponent, urging distance, "Stay away from me," She tried to bark, but slurred instead.

"Or what?" He retorted sarcastically, taking a step closer, "You're not like most women Rey, you're a fighter... A bit more defensive for my taste, but a fighter no less..."

"Take another step closer, we'll see just how defensive I can get."

For a moment, Rey thought she had power in this. She was obviously standing her ground, fighting for her own life like a caged animal, the thrill of this gave her courage. She gritted her teeth, preparing herself for whatever limb, weapon, or soldier that would come at her next.

That moment was instantly cut short. As Rey was completely disabled from fending herself off upon Kylo Ren's own plan of defense. The faltering sensation was instantaneous, there was no tingling or slow malfuntion of her body, it was quick, like the flick of a switch.

Unable to even wiggle her own fingers, it became harder to breathe, and panic began to pump through her blood.

"Your tenacity continues to amaze me..." Rey heard him speak, although her eyes would begrudgingly allow her to glance about, her senses were fully intact. She felt her own heartbeat pulsate within her chest as she heard his footsteps draw near. "It was foolish of me to let you drink so much, I'll admit this... But your behavior is becoming disruptive." Kylo Ren approached her nonchalantly, the breath from Rey's shaky lips briefly fogged his vision, "Control yourself, or I'll do it for you..."

Rey noticed the sudden thrill of vulnerability coming from him, she tightened the muscles in her arms and her legs, desperate for movement, but to no avail. "N-No..."

Please... She begged in her thoughts, Please be with me...

Be with me...

Her thoughts were blasted into his mind, they were begs for him... Her shield had been cracked beyond repair, now there was truly nothing left to hide, it was exhilarating. He wanted this power, he wanted the upper hand. "Does your friend on Jakku know about your temper?"

Her heart seemed to stop mid-beat, and she couldn't think of any way to combat this sudden realization. Her knees began to weaken, and she felt as if the very ground beneath her would collapse. "How did..." She rasped without thinking, "Leave him..."

"I hear his voice in your thoughts, yet..." His gaze never hesitated upon these threats, in fact, it intensified his curiosity. "You hardly know him at all..." He sounded surprised from this and Rey heard the fascination in his words, she felt her breath began to shake as she struggled to inhale.

"You think about him often... But he has no name, no face..." He stopped himself, inching his mask closer to her cheek. He noticed the small beads of sweat beginning to form upon her jaw, "What could he possibly have to offer that you'd defend him so willingly?"

This advantage had gone too far, he was long past the point of no return, and she would surely despise him now... He realized this and shut his eyes, now only wishing he could return what had been said.

For a moment she had wished her tears would grant her some form of mercy from this man, but he was unrelenting with this emotional torture. It was his duty as a commander to inflict pain and pry information from his opponents, Rey knew this for a fact, but this harrowing trial was purely for his amusement. Retaliation against this would only be foolish... A useless cause...

She clenched her teeth and shut her eyes, physically capable of blocking him out, but she questioned her mental abilities. Her mind began to wander, it was controlled at first, and then it began to aimlessly return back to him...

Don't say it.

Don't think it.

Don't think it.

shutupshutup

please...

Not here, not now

It was out of her control, it was selfish and inevitable, but Kylo Ren knew exactly what she said. It was quiet... But it was there now, out in the open, and Rey's jaw finally relinquished with regret.

Please tell me your thoughts and review as honestly as possible. No Star Wars FanFiction is perfect, unless it's written, sealed, signed, and kissed by George Lucas himself, but I hope this makes at least 1 person happy.

Thanks for reading! Come back for 'Chapter 6: Let Me Go.'