A/N: Enjoy!

Marrying the Monster

Chapter 10: Measure for Measure

Rey walked briskly down the staircases, ending up at the front door in record time. She noticed there were no guards, and she couldn't really care honestly. She opened the front doors and saw them standing on either side of the stairs in their regular formation. She kept her head down as she tore off down the steps and heading toward her normal running spot. The Knights watched as she ran alone for a moment before Trudgen set his things down and ran after her.

The remaining Knights looked among themselves before Vicrul snickered and shook his head. He took off after the two, leaving four standing guard at the main entrance. He easily caught up to them and ran alongside Trudgen with a nod. Rey paid them no mind as she continued to run, the thudding of their boots reverberating in her chest like a drum. She continued her run, clearing her thoughts as she did. How could she make herself marry a monster? For all she knew, as soon as they received the truce for peace, he'd do away with her the same way he did Hux. Maybe then the job would be finished properly.

She hesitantly glanced behind her and saw Trudgen and Vicrul running behind her. After a moment, she also saw Ushar joining them, followed by Kuruk and Ap'lek. The only one left was Cardo. She ran her sight back to where she'd come and saw Cardo standing firm in his position, wondering why he hadn't joined, but also wondering why the others had. This was very out of the ordinary. Were they offering her their support? She stopped running for a moment to catch her breath, stretching her arms and legs as the rest of the Knights stopped a few paces behind her to give her space.

She glanced up at the castle to see Kylo standing on the balcony, observing them silently. She wondered what was going on in his head right now. He saw his Knights running with his future Duchess. They broke formation just to follow her for a run. They seemed to be enjoying themselves, too. She vaguely made out the quiet chatter amongst the men behind her, drawing her attention away from Kylo and to the Knights. Her eyes landed on each of their masks before huffing and giving a small smile. Shrugging it off and deciding not to question their motives, she decided she'd enjoy her run and the silent support they offered. She'd decided she would view their actions as support, rather than security detail.

She turned on her bare heel and took off again, hearing the thuds behind her of the Knights. She almost laughed at how it felt like she was leading an army in training exercises. The thudding intensified suddenly, causing her to glance backward to see the one more joining them: Cardo. He nodded at her as he took up the rear, falling in line seamlessly. She didn't know why, but just them running with her in unison like this was enough to bolster her confidence. Maybe she was ready to give him another chance. Maybe she'd acted too harshly before. Maybe she'd seek him out once she was done here. She needed a bath anyway. Maybe they could sit like they did that one night.

She did find it oddly comforting after all. Her cheeks flushed at the thought of finding the presence of a man comforting. She picked up the pace, refusing to think about it for the time being. What an absurd thought that entered her head just then. She heard the Knights pick up their pace effortlessly behind her, the rhythmic thudding bringing her comfort as she ran. Trudgen ran up to her and she glanced over at him momentarily. "Credit for your thoughts, my lady," he teased.

She snickered and shook her head. "Maybe I acted too harshly with him."

"Ah. Perhaps you didn't act harsh enough," Trudgen countered. Rey flicked her sight over to him then, brows pulled together in confusion. Was he being facetious? He then snickered. "It's all relative. Whether we're harsh enough or too harsh is left up to feeling. If you're feeling guilty, apologize and try to reconcile. If you're feeling like you should stay away, stay away."

"I'm glad you think it's that simple," she scoffed.

"It is. Emotions will lead you down a path that could prove detrimental."

"Emotions shape how you feel about other people." Rey flicked her eyes over at Trudgen then, earning a small laugh from him and a shake of the head. "He killed a man."

"We all have," Vicrul said from behind her. Rey glanced behind her. "Yet, here you are, running amongst us without a second thought."

Rey considered his words for a moment. She supposed she was being too harsh. "But he killed a man in front of me, despite me pleading with him not to."

"To be fair, none of us would stop a contract just because you ask us to," Kuruk said nonchalantly. "It comes with the job."

"Kylo didn't kill unnecessarily; there was purpose to this kill," Ap'lek stated, making Rey stop running for a moment so she could focus on what the Knights had to say. She turned her attention to him, seeking an explanation. "Hux hired Vicrul to kill you. Vicrul, out of respect, botched the job. Kylo killed Hux as retribution and prevention."

"Beg your pardon?" Rey said as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"Measure for measure," Trudgen clarified.

Rey pressed her lips tightly together as she tried to comprehend. "Look, he saw a danger and eliminated the threat. What more is there to understand?" Cardo said as he crossed his arms. "First rule of protecting what's yours: identify the threat."

"Second rule: eliminate it," Ushar said with a shrug.

Rey lowered her sight for a moment, letting their explanation sink in. Maybe he wasn't really a monster. He was just protecting what was his. Her eyes widened as a deep blush coated her cheeks. Of course, this wasn't missed by the Knights as they snickered amongst themselves. "There it is!" Ap'lek exclaimed as he snickered louder.

Rey turned a glare over to him and punched him in the arm. "Shut up!"

Trudgen laughed and shook his head. "You have your answers apparently. Let's finish this run so you can take care of business."

Rey nodded with a small smile as she looked among the Knights. "Thank you," she said as she bowed her head to them. The Knights looked amongst themselves with evident confusion. She then smirked at them and took off unexpectedly, making the men follow behind her, their boots picking back up into the same rhythmic pattern she'd come to appreciate.

X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X~X

Kylo looked out the window and saw Rey running around the courtyard, barefooted and he couldn't help but grin. She was definitely a free spirit, he'd give her that. He was content just watching from the window, but somehow, without him knowing it, he made his way out onto the balcony, leaning over the railing as he watched Trudgen join her. His brow shot up at the sudden intrusion, but he realized rather quickly that she didn't mind the intrusion. Had she really been accepted so easily by the Knights? He allowed himself a small smirk then. She really was an amazing woman.

Vicrul followed after them shortly after and his eyes widened a hair. It wasn't long before they all joined her on her run, save Cardo. His eyes didn't deceive him, did they? She really managed to get the Knights to join her for her run. He saw her look up at him and stare for a few moments. He remained still, unsure if he should tear his sight away, leave, or just remain where he was. He saw her turn her attention back to the Knights, resume running, and he watched as Cardo joined them now. He shook his head with a ghost of a smile. Amazing.

After a few moments, he saw Trudgen run up close to Rey and he became curious. He vaguely remembered her being closer to Trudgen than the rest of them, but he knew there was nothing of import there. He watched as her attention started to drift from one Knight to the next, apparently having a conversation with them. So, not only did she silently convince them to run with her, but she also held conversations with them? Suddenly, he saw her face go red and he had to wonder if they'd said something offensive or unbecoming. But then Ap'lek's voice rose above all the others and Rey punched him. He smirked down at them. She had everything under control, he supposed. He stood straight when they started running again and walked back into his room.

He supposed she'd seek him out when she was ready to talk. He only hoped it would be before the guests started arriving. He didn't want to face any of them, honestly, but he knew that she would feel better having some people there that she was familiar with. As much as he hated Luke and his retainers, Kylo would host them for the wedding. Kriff, he hated crowds...

Kylo let out a sigh, raking his hand through his hair at the anxiety that started to build within him at the mere thought of crowds. He hadn't shown his face in public but to a few people in the north, and that was for good reason. Now, everyone would know what he looked like. Given the mixed opinions of him, they would either be grateful to him for helping build the north to what it was today, or they would quake in fear of him. Neither option brought him comfort. He just wanted to be left alone to live his life. He didn't want to be famous.

He briefly considered wearing his helmet to the wedding, but quickly discarded it knowing full well that was ridiculous. He supposed he knew what he was getting into when he agreed to marry, but it didn't make things any better. He hated crowds, and he didn't do well with people. The whole north would want to witness his wedding, just from the mere curiosity of not knowing what he looked like at all. He sighed softly as he sat on the bench in front of his bed. He had to suck it up, he supposed. The wedding was in a couple of days, and once people knew what he looked like, there was no turning back.

A knock at the door broke him from his thoughts, or rather second thoughts, and he flicked his eyes over to the door. He walked over to the door quietly, opening it to reveal Rey standing there. "Rey?"

"Hey," she said with a small smile. "Can we talk?" Kylo's eyes widened a hair, but he stepped aside and allowed her into his room. She bounced into the room and he closed the door, making sure to keep his distance to not scare her. When she rounded on him, fidgeting with her fingers, he decided that he would take a seat at the bench again. He carefully walked past her and sat down, making sure not to make any sudden movements for fear of scaring her off. "About earlier..."

Kylo sighed and he shook his head at her. "Don't worry about it."

"No, I'd like to talk about it." Her voice was full of resolve, causing him to meet her gaze. He hesitantly nodded, silencing himself and figuratively giving her the floor. "I was too harsh. I wanted to apologize," she said as her hands dropped to her sides. He quirked a brow at her then. Was she apologizing for being scared of him? Honestly, he didn't blame her. He didn't blame her for being upset with him either, but this was definitely an odd turn of events. "I know why you killed Hux. I don't like it... but I understand. You were trying to protect me from any future harm, right?"

"...partly," he admitted.

"The other part was revenge," she stated plainly. He nodded quietly. "I understand. While I appreciate you wanting to protect me, I also don't want you to kill needlessly." He opened his mouth to protest, but she continued before he could speak. "I say needlessly because he could have spent his time in prison. You could have exiled him. There were alternatives to just killing him."

"If I exiled him, it was only a matter of time before he came back with assassins of his own and tried to wipe out everything I've tried so hard to build."

She hesitated and nodded, not having considered that. "Ok... but you could have kept him in prison."

Kylo shook his head. "For Phasma to release him and he create the army anyway?"

She fidgeted more before sighing softly in defeat. "I... hadn't considered that." She sat beside him with a heavy sigh, careful not to touch him. She felt the warmth from his arm being so close to hers and it was soothing to her. She'd come to the realization that he truly had no other options, but she still highly disliked it. "I'm sorry," she said softly, her head lowering.

He looked over at her and saw that she truly was feeling guilty for something, but he didn't have the heart to ask for what. "It's fine."

She shook her head. "It's not fine. I called you a monster without knowing the reasoning behind your actions. I judged you just as everyone else did in the south, and I'm really sorry..." she said as tears of shame and regret started to form in her eyes. He let out a small sigh then. He moved just a bit so their arms were touching, causing her to lean into him unexpectedly. He welcomed the behavior, but it was very different than how she felt earlier when he tried to hold her hand.

"Are you still afraid of me?" he asked against his better judgment. Truth be told, he didn't want to hear the answer, but his mouth spoke anyway.

"I wasn't afraid of you; I was upset with you for not listening to me and killing a man for reasons I didn't understand." Kylo nodded quietly. "The Knights helped me understand. They said that if I had told them to stop, they wouldn't have either," she said with a small laugh.

"That sounds like them," he said with a small grin. "They barely listen to me as it is."

Rey laughed softly. "I don't think that's true. It seems they respect you." Kylo shrugged, instantly regretting it as she pulled away and stood up. She smiled down at him and offered her hand. He took it and she walked closer to him, wrapping her arms around him as his forehead came to rest on her belly and his arms wound around her waist. This was oddly comforting, and rather intimate, but he didn't hate the gesture. "Join me for a bath?"

He lifted his head and looked up at her flatly. "That's rather forward of you. And indecent."

She rolled her eyes. "I meant... sit in there with me, like you did the night I found out who you were."

He stared into her eyes for a long moment. Why did she want him to sit with her? Was this her trying to get closer to him? His instant reaction was to recoil at the thought, but he didn't. He mulled it over and figured he did it once, so he could do it again, right? And it wasn't like he saw anything the first time, nor would he now. "All right," he said with a small sigh. "Have Rose draw the bath and when you're ready, have her come get me."

Rey smiled and nodded. She gave him one last hug and bounced out of the room, leaving a bewildered Kylo behind as his grin chased her out the door. She was definitely something.