AUTHOR'S NOTE:

DISCLAIM: I DO NOT OWN STAR WARS

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Chapter 14: A Little Change

. . .

Kylo Ren had devised a solution to their mundane schedule days in advance. It came to him that he planned to tell her every night they spent together, but their conversations had thrown him off course. The thought would come to him, but then he would be impressed by Rey's bilingual knowledge. It would come by again, but by that time they were already 20 minutes into a conversation about pod-racing.

He knew she would be reluctant at first. These gatherings were his least favorite, but perhaps Rey would appreciate the change in scenery. It was easy to think the night would be over in mere hours, but the social traits of these assemblies filled him with dread.

The First Order's problems were growing every moment with or without him present during the day. The Resistance pilot on board is proving to be of little use to them, and with General Hux refusing to allow Kylo Ren access to the prisoner, the scale continues to tip. Hux considered Kylo Ren to be 'reckless,' and 'unreliable' during their last meeting, refusing to collaborate or reciprocate information.

Kylo Ren knew the truth through all of Hux's slander. He had grown resentful and bitter in his years, and Rey was an important piece to raise the stakes. She was beautiful, sensible, and underneath Ren's protection, she was simply untouchable to him; the only piece on the board he could not play. Hux was not permitted to keep such a custody due to his ranking, an official officer of the First Order had no time for such affairs, let alone a lawful relationship. Kylo Ren knew there was an underlying jealousy to his protective care of Rey.

He waited outside her door, internally eager as he awaited her arrival.

"I can't believe I'm wearing this," Rey opposed to the woman at her feet, "Don't you think it's a bit-..." The handmaiden lacing her white boots glanced up to her, her ghostly face yet to desensitize Rey upon their shared looks, "Flashy...?"

The woman went back to her intricate lacing, "It it what Commander Kylo Ren requested, my lady."

Of course he did.

The dress was light and ready for an ambulatory escape, however its delicate stitching on her shoulders would surely tear and leave her exposed. The dress clung tightly to her breasts, highlighting her figure. Her bare biceps were adorned with golden cuffs, tightly constricting her muscles. The gown was 'two toned,' as her handmaidens called it; a deep blue on top, and fading to a pale tan, deep red for the trims of her bodice and sleeves.

It was mesmerizing, her bodice had been adorned with gold tethers draping across her breasts and capturing the bracelets on her arms. The handmaiden behind her finished her parted hair, clipping the sides back and allowing her short hair to flow freely. She placed another golden chain to her hairline, a small, jeweled pendent kissed the center of her forehead.

As Rey looked closer into the mirror, she slowly faded from the view. Another woman stood in her place, a stranger, a lady. She was regal and stately, ready to lead a nation or sit upon a throne. Her eyes were softened, not squinted or reddened by sandstorms or sun exposure, so were her cheeks, lips, hands, shoulders. Rey smiled at her, and the woman in the mirror gladly smiled back.

In this moment she wasn't sure why she was smiling, and she felt silly for doing so, but this moment of weakness and vulnerability made her think of one thing. She shut her eyes, drowning out the sounds of lacing and the closing of closet doors. Her mind began to wander, creating a footprinted path to follow.

If you can hear me, I'm coming...

I'll find you...

I wish you could see me now... You'd get a laugh out of this, I promise you that...

"We're finished, my lady..." One of the handmaidens had interrupted, forcing Rey out of her trance, "Are you ready?"

Rey glanced again to the woman in the mirror, smiling once again for good measure, then turning back to her handmaid, carefully stepping off the stool she'd been standing on.

Kylo Ren's patience began to narrow, he toyed with the idea of entering Rey's chamber himself, but turned away with the thought of risking her modesty. It was his own undoing of procrastination, a subject he visited on most occasions. Especially dinner gatherings with guests.

The two stormtroopers stood proudly behind him, awaiting any sudden orders that may arise. Although Kylo Ren knew better than to trust any of Hux's loyal servants, who stood behind him on behalf of his orders.

The door whooshed open, nearly startling Kylo Ren out of his dreadful thoughts.

His heart eased and began to flutter instead, Rey's appearance would have made him redden if he chose to allow. Her dress flowed gently across her feet as she stepped towards him, yet he could not find the strength to step aside. Her dress gave him the impression she was gliding, flying across the floor before him. A childish tendency appeared in his mind, something made him tempted to ask if she was even an angel.

"Ready?" She questioned, unable to read his expression.

Although he wore his more formal attire for the occasion, he felt exceedingly underdressed compared to his dinner companion.

Tell her...

Tell her you're not laughing at her, you'd never laugh at her...

Tell her she looks more beautiful than the moment you first saw her...

"If you are." He said instead.

Maybe next time.

The walk to the hangar had felt unusually longer for Rey, their legs took synchronized steps down each dimly lit hallway. Their parallel strides caused passers to make quick glances, flicking their gazes between the two regal figures. Men and women alike in uniforms taking separate glimpses of Rey and then forcing themselves back to the task at hand upon Kylo Ren's presence.

Rey had been careful to avoid her gaze with officers in greysuits, scared to catch the evil eye of a man she would see in the shop tomorrow. The constant goggling made Rey feel even more conscious she was wearing such an outstanding dress, it became a task just to inhale deeply.

She made no attempt to speak, focusing strictly on reaching her destination and out of the spotlight.

The hangar was quiet, the entire runway had been cleared except for one, single cruising craft made for short flights. The stormtroopers and handmaidens by her side had fled at some point before they reached the hanger.

As they approached the cruiser, Rey realized it had been larger than she'd expected. It was a massive, rounded ship that could comfortably carry two dozen passengers at least, its jets were smaller and the engine hummed gently, giving her the impression this was not the escape pod back to Jakku.

A door opened on its side and a small flight of stairs descended from a platform, a pilot in black-clad armor had opened the door and saluted the approaching commander. Kylo Ren took to the stairs first, taking note of the lack of handrails and stepping briskly up the stairs, his black cloak trailing far behind him. Rey waited below.

When Kylo Ren reached the top, he returned to face Rey, bending his body and stretching his hand.

Rey saw an accident waiting to happen upon these stairs and this dress, but the opportunity to avoid this mishap reached out for her in a genuine motion. The idea of taking his hand was not of foreign concept, in fact she remembered vaguely it had happened once before. Now, sober, she found herself eagerly reaching once again.

Rey's arm stretched, her eyes deeply looking into the slits of her assistor's mask as her hand became locked inside his. She felt his strength travel through her hand and up her arm, he pulled gently, yet kept his firm grip on her hand.

The ship's engine kicked on, and Rey's dress began to flow against the jet's blast. She was pulled aboard before the air became too strong, Rey was grateful her dress had not slipped off during the climb. She was lead into a small lounge inside the cruiser, which was as luxurious as her room, but not as brightly lit.

She was pulled into a couch, where she heard the door close next to her, and the lounge had blackened. The cruiser lifted as soon as the door was shut, Rey could tell from the drop in her stomach. Rey was expecting herself to topple forward from the violent lift of the cruiser, but was pleasantly surprised when she remained steadily in her seat.

She realized her hand was still firmly seized in Kylo Ren's grasp.

Their flight was shorter than Rey was expecting, she was surprised to know Kylo Ren hardly spoke at all during their short journey. When the cruiser began to steady and descend, Rey began one of their first conversations, "Where are we?"

"Canto Bight," He answered, obviously regretful of his answer, "I'm hopeful this won't take long."

"You said it's just some snobby First Order event, right?" She said, trying to lift his mood.

"Not exactly," He returned, "The men we spoke of, The Unseen Brethren, they requested new accommodations upon their arrival. This is traditionally where we meet for our final discussion, The First Order tries to make it a more formal affair, but it becomes more of a spectacle."

"I see," She replied hesitantly, feeling the cruiser's gentle landing under her seat, "Why am I here exactly?"

The door beside them hastily opened again, commencing Kylo Ren to speak quickly, "You said you wanted a little change."

Rey blinked, comprehending each word that left his voicebox in disbelief, she silenced her yell to a whisper as she heard voices outside, "This is what you call a little change?!"

"I should have told you I'm not very good with social situations," He said lifelessly, "I suppose it's too late now." He stood from his seat, making his short distance to the entrance and stepping down the stairs.

The sarcasm in his voice brought her mindset back to the training hall, this time, she wished she had a staff to smack him while he was defenseless. "Oh and you think I am?!"

She hurried after him, half tempted to step on his cloak and force a fall upon him. Instead, she looked out of the entrance to see a bustling city full of lights, polished walkways, and First Order officers and their posh female companions.

Women with furs, waterfall-like dresses, jewels that shined in the slightest of light, all ascended a red carpet staircase with their male counterparts into a beautiful palace-like edifice she had only seen in pictures. In this moment, she was no longer the girl from Jakku.

She was the girl in the mirror.

Rey had glanced down the staircase, the very hand that pulled her into her seat was eager to pull her down. She took it again, more willingly and eager than before, descending the stairs with quick pace. Her slippers skidded across the stone floor as she finally landed, "This is incredible..." She gaped, mesmerized by every sound and sight that enthralled her into the wonderland of Canto Bight.

"It's not what it seems." He said bluntly, carefully enough as to not blemish Rey's new sense of wonder, "Stay close. You are not to leave my sight even for a second, do you understand?"

She snapped out of her trance, responding quickly to the hard tone in his voice, "...Yes."

He took a moment to register the expression upon her face. The whimsy of her grin had vanished, the new hope in her eyes had faded away, with this, he remembered what he was to her; the captor.

It became clear to him that she was still the very same mystery girl from Jakku, her personality, her voice, everything had remained the same. Only now, seeing her saddened made him want to condemn himself for his own personality.

A few strands of her fine hairs had gotten loose around her scalp, Kylo Ren lifted his hand to them, momentarily about to brush them behind her ear, he decided against it instead and retracted. She's perfect as is...

"We should leave," Rey spoke gently, but loud enough for Kylo Ren to hear.

They took their first steps towards the building, more couples began to flood the area, as they approached, each one became stranger looking by the second. Long necks, buggy glasses, extra appendages, red hair.

Kylo Ren glanced again at the copper headed figure. He was later than Kylo Ren expected, Hux was typically one of the first to arrive at prestigious meetings like these. He climbed the mountain of stairs and disappeared into the building before he had a chance to turn around. Kylo Ren thought it was better this way anyway.

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 15: The Linguist.'