THE HUNT

Two

    "Are you sure I don't have a chance?" The girl pushes again. I grit my teeth, forcing myself to prioritise the mission. "Because I've been told that I'm a very pretty girl."

    "I don't think this applies to the mission." I snap. She laughs, shoving my shoulder as we patrol the streets. 

    "I just want to talk about him." She says, voice light. "You know when you love someone, and all you think about is them?" I pause, turning to her. 

    "You don't love him." I say simply before continuing the patrol. She matches my pace with a laugh, which infuriates me.

    "I do!" She puts a hand on her armoured chest. "He seems like he'd be so kind to the person he loves." 

    "Kylo Ren doesn't do love." I grip my blaster even tighter, wondering if that's truly the reality. 

    "Everyone does love at some point!" She says perkily. "I wonder how I could get his attention?" She muses. 

    "You could be a resistance spy, get caught after a few years, get tortured, then brought to him because nobody else could break you. Then slowly get over your paralysing fear of him only to stab him in the leg, which prompts him to kiss you right before he passes out from blood loss." I shrug as she stares at me "Just an idea." 

    "No, I think I'll approach him in the hall or something." She throws her head back. "Do you think he'd catch me if I bumped into him and fell?" 

    "No." 

    "What if I go to his throne room after the guards leave?"

    "No." 

    "What if I wait by his room?" 

    "Do you even know where his room is?" I roll my eyes. 

    "Do you?" She asks. 

    "Yes." I say absentmindedly. I can almost hear her excitement. 

    "Can you show me?" She hooks her arm through mine. 

    "Absolutely not." 

    "Hunter." I almost cry from relief as Kylo's voice echoes in my mind.

    Yes?  

    "If you head east, you'll be able to intercept the three spies on their way to the ruins." 

    On my way. I turn sharply, and the girl yelps, trailing me. 

    "Where are you going?" 

    "To the ruins."

    "Why?"

    "Orders changed." I say, not even bothering to mask the annoyance I feel. "This goes up over you." I place my blaster back on my belt, drawing two long blades from their hiding place shoved down my boots. 

    "Oh please, you're a low-ranker like me." She scoffs. "I've known you for years. There's no way you're secretly a higher rank." 

    I ignore her, breaking into a sprint. 

    "I'm meeting you there." Kylo says. I scoff. 

    "Then why am I even undercover, idiot?" I hiss, knowing he can't hear me from this distance without my thoughts. 

    "What did you say?" The girl asks. "I didn't hear what you said."

    "Shut up." I grit. She says nothing, surprising me. 

    We sprint in silence for about two minutes before ascending a hill. Once we reach the top, I see Kylo standing motionless, surrounded by Resistance troops. 

    "Holy-" She starts, but I interrupt her with a groan.

    "Idiot." She turns balking. 

    "What?"

    "He's stupid." I pull my helmet off, and she steps back, raising her blaster. 

    "You're not KN-"

    "Nope." I start pulling the white armour off, and she loads her weapon. "Look, I work with him. He's an idiot. I need to go save him, okay?" She hesitates, then lowers her blaster. 

    "How can I help?" I look at her for a long moment. 

    "Take off your helmet and armour. Everything is dark grey and ash down there. We need to blend in." She nods, yanking her helmet off. 

    "You won't tell him, will you?"

    "Of course I will." I flash her a grin. "He'll get a good laugh out of it." 

    "Hunter, don't come down." His voice echoes in my head, and I pause. 

    What?

    "I had to come up with a plan."

    And you didn't think to inform me before I ripped off all this armour?

    There's no answer, and I shake my head. 

    I'm coming down. 

    "No. I am your Supreme Leader. This is an order."

    You're also my boyfriend. I'm not taking no for an answer, idiot."

    "Hunter."

    "Come on." I gesture for the girl to follow me as I head to the forest, making my way carefully down the steep hill. She's young. And pretty. Prettier than me. 

    Soon we make it to the bottom and I draw my swords again, trudging to where I know he's standing like an idiot, but I hear screams before I can make it. 

    So I run. 

    When I turn the corner, I see him standing with his lightsaber embedded in one of the Resistance soldiers' chest. The last Resistance soldier standing. 

    "Hunter, I told you to stay up there." Kylo snaps. I cross my arms as the man crumples to the ground. 

    "What was the point of getting yourself surrounded?" 

    "They called the General." He places his saber back on his belt. "The Knights are on their way with a few destroyers and my division." 

    "I hate you." I snap. He laughs, pulling me close and pressing a kiss to the top of my head. 

    "No you don't." 

    "You don't know that." I smile up at him. 

    "I do." He leans down, kissing me gently. The girl clears her throat, and I groan. 

    "You have an admirer." I whisper. 

    "You mean you're not the only one who finds me charming?" He says quietly. I roll my eyes, turning. 

    "Make a call for the troops already on-world to make their way to the ruins. We have enemies closing in fast." 

    "I- You-"

    "You heard her." Kylo says sternly. She quickly bows her head before scrambling off.