DEFIANT • kylo ren (18+)

36 - What did you think?

You think you understand now.

The journey from the Command Shuttle, through the Supremacy almost passes in a blur of similar hallways and First Order soldiers.

Kylo mumbles information through the Force the entire way. The Supremacy is a Mega-class Star Dreadnought. Acting as the First Orders headquarters, both battleship and command centre, larger than any ship in galactic history. You'd be bored if it wasn't his rich voice you can feel leaking into your bones.

That's how it feels, this odd connection. Like he's within you.

However, as the corridors darken and shadows grow, doorways widen, and before you know it you're face to face with a type of soldier you've never seen before.

Head to toe in red armour that shines like the glint of a freshly sharpened knife, they stand shoulder to shoulder. The arrow formation they make up points toward the ominous door at the end of the hall. A black hole seems to omit from within the door frame.

Elite Praetorian Guard. The message comes clear through that silver thread attached from yours to Kylo's mind. Their weapons look sharp in a way that suggests they are brand new, and a shiver spikes along your spine as you will yourself to continue walking.

Despite your outfit, the confidence that comes from how you must look walking in these long dark robes with your leg strutting from the slit in your dress, you find the lightsaber at your hilt and the dagger Kylo has since replaced strapped to your thigh to be the main things easing your mind.

As they loom closer, your heart drops. You should have stayed back. Faked illness, or something. Maybe Kylo would have allowed you to avoid this with a little incentive.

You're tugging on the bond before you know it. Master. A strained whisper that you're not proud of.

His mask tilts to look you over, noticing you slowing down. You wish to clutch your stomach as it starts to flip, anxiety gripping at your bones and squeezing your organs.

His hand flies out, and the leather wraps around your chin. You're at a stop, your face in his hand, your breathing shaky, with the many blood coloured soldiers watching you both cautiously.

Feel your power. He doesn't say anything. He sends it all through you, buzzing and electric and your hairs are standing on end from the sudden flow of energy. Your heart is alive in a way you've never felt before, pumping things other than blood through your arteries. Feel where it comes from. Pain wrecks through your chest, thoughts of your father alone, Rey's lifeless hand, dead bodies on a battlefield, strangers hands groping you, drug deals, blood that isn't yours coating your skin, inadequacy, rejection. The power building inside of you triples, just like that.

Feel the dark side. Black liquid is surging through your veins. Stars and planets and meteor showers explode behind your eyes as you try to breathe properly, but every time your lungs fill with air, that dark sea from your mind crashes harder and harder against the cliff edge. Rocks are jutting from under the surface and you are standing at the very edge.

You nod. Just once. This power feels infinite and unstoppable and it's all beneath your skin for when you want it.

The two of you proceed, side by side, until the guards are stepping aside for you to walk into the abyss beyond the door frame.

You're plunged into darkness for longer than mentally comfortable. The only thing that keeps your feet moving is Kylo's hand, that is now resting on the small of your back to propel you forward. Like he knows that human instinct is to run from this shadow space.

You emerge from the dark pathway and into a dark black room, lit with blood-red lights, the floor so shiny you can see yourself when you glance down. Your hands are shaking, you're unsure if it is due to the power you can feel surging through you or the instinctual fear this place alights within you. You settle them, holding your sheathed lightsaber.