Chapter Twenty: Priorities

Kylo found his mood had soured for some reason, and it didn't improve as they located a debris-free hangar. Scanning its farthest corners briefly, he gave the area a curt nod and whirled around, retracing their steps without comment. The idea of training Rey had lost much of its appeal. Bouts of conscience and battling wills with her gave him a headache.

He led the way back to the entrance, his strides long with irritation. Rey plodded after him, letting the distance between them grow. When she'd gained enough space in her estimation, she ducked down a side passage and tried prying open a floor grate, presumably to disappear into the maintenance ductwork. Kylo had been waiting for such a departure and used the Force to tear her from the floor and deposit her back beside him. She found herself dumped at his feet and looked up in astonishment.

"H-How did—?"

He rolled his hand, gesturing to the air.

Her look darkened. "I WILL escape," she asserted.

"How? By scurrying fast?" He countered. "Only manipulating the Force will grant you freedom."

In answer, she broke into another run, just to be swiped back with a bend of his finger.

He dropped her to her knees this time, and fury filled her face as she rushed to stand. "Stop it!" Rey yelled.

Kylo curled his hand into a claw. "I have more persuasive means if you need a reminder," he warned.

She didn't pale this time and simply lifted her chin in challenge.

He could see she was contemplating a third attempt and felt an unbidden flare of respect. She was tenacious.

A complete idiot to be sure, but a determined one.

Looking her up and down, he straightened his hand out to her. "Enough of this. Empty your pockets."

Confusion swept away her defiance, and Rey backed up.

"Leave everything you've acquired," he demanded, pointing to the front of her jacket.

"What? No," she refused. "I didn't take anything dangerous."

Kylo whipped forward and snatched her coat. His grip at her zipper was rough and excessive as he pulled her up to her toes. "I don't care." His tone dropped low. "Empty. Your. Pockets."

Rey struggled, trying to shrug herself free. "Why are you always out to prove you're in charge? I'm your prisoner."

"Am I being arbitrary?" He asked angrily, diving his hand into one of her coat's many recesses. "You JUST tried to escape."

She shrieked in protest, writhing and hitting his arm. "Don't! I need that!" She cried.

"No one needs THREE rolls!" He shouted back, searching for the bonding tape in an inadvertent grope. "Give it to me!"

Their movements became a tussle as they fought against each other, breaths quickening with exertion and mounting tempers.

"You're a BULLY!" Rey screeched. "You think taking this will put me in my place!?"

"You act like I'm bluffing," Kylo snarled. "I'm merely demonstrating there's action behind my words."

"Action, huh?" She asked.

He caught a flash of her thoughts before she moved and reflexively seized her knee as it barreled toward his groin. His fingers dug into her leg, shaking with shock and rage.

"What are you DOING?!" He cried, flinging her knee aside. "Do you have a death wish?!"

Freed, Rey leapt back, clinging to her laden jacket with bared teeth and flashing eyes. "Don't take my things," she growled.

Kylo groped for words. "You'd risk your life for some blasted tape?!"

"It's brand new," Rey countered defensively, clutching her coat tighter.

He was reeling—at her audacity, her stupidity, her subterfuge—but managed to make his voice dry. "Right, of course." He tapped his forehead. "Game changing."

"Oh?" She matched his tone, clearly unashamed. "The man who abducts people wants to comment on my conduct?"

"I don't do that to my enemies."

"Yes, but choking clears the bar," Rey muttered. "How noble."

Kylo knew he could take the trinkets from her. He could return her to her knees, tears streaming as she begged for mercy. Such a flex of power was nothing to him; he was stronger in the Force than she'd ever comprehend.

Instead, he readjusted his cape, inhaling deeply through his nose. "Look…," he started. The galaxy was made up of principles. Being kneed into a fetal position was too dark even for him.

Kylo waited before saying more, watching until her gaze cooled to wary curiosity. "I'll allow you to keep your precious rolls," he began. "If you yield everything else and promise to never do that again." He pretended to be consumed by brushing dirt from his uniform, as if her answer mattered little.

Rey contemplated, biting her lower lip. "What about the hydrospanner—?"

Kylo snapped his eyes up. "The tape or nothing."

Her face fell, but it was only a moment before she began grumbling and extracting gadgets. "Unreasonable," she groused. "Arbitrary. Wasteful." The grumbling deepened to unintelligible as a servodriver appeared, followed by two hypersheers and a tuning stylus.

Kylo recognized many of the instruments as ones used for droid service, and wondered if she'd been planning on reprogramming the astromech aboard the shuttle. His eyes widened as she withdrew a fusioncutter next, deadly at close range, and schooled his expression as she shot him a sullen glare.

When did she grab that!?