Ordered

Chapter 16 - In Which Ren Pulls Through

(Chapter Rating: M)

With time, to their surprise, and perhaps the blessing of the Force, he finally regained the stability to sit up and open his one good eye. He realized slowly, that his left eye would be little use to him now. Its center held only darkness. His right eye and hearing were already compensating for its near destruction. He resolved to have it replaced with a cybernetic one. Whenever he escaped.

Ocean remained as far as his eye could see. Battling daily fatigue, he'd tried in vain to form a plan. But his wife and his uncle had seen fit to strand him with no options. With his tracker destroyed and not a working ship or communicator to be found, he would be forced to wait for Skywalker's return or a First Order rescue party.

Staring at his reflection in the open pool of sea water, there was little that could be done for the rest of his face. His uncle had left a parallel gash above the long silver scar Rey had given him on StarKiller Base. Now his former handsome mug bore diagonal racing stripes. The side of his scalp also had a deep tear. Only time would tell if his hair would cover it again. Sometime during his unconsciousness, Rey or Luke, or both together, had shaved the wounded half of his head. He knew his hair was a dangerous luxury when it came to risk of infection. It had been the most sanitary option. In all likelihood, it was Rey who decided to keep his hair long on one side. He didn't have to read her mind to know she liked his hair. All the same, he hated the mangy look. The peach fuzz around the scars barely surfaced. It would take months to look decent, if ever. The hair on his chin and neck appeared thicker.

In this light, he barely recognized himself. He'd transformed into a feral looking brute. Gone forever was the beautiful creature he had been. It was ironic, actually, because now he had cause to wear the mask to cover his beastly, torn flesh. He felt hideous, and the feeling exhausted him.

He splashed the water over his face, relaxing in the shallow pool of the private inlet. The cool temperature eased the ache of the scars. He hadn't been this clean and relaxed in days. His wife forbid him to fully bathe or shower, due to her extreme fear of infection returning to his scars. And, yet, although Rey had been a dutiful nursemaid on his deathbed, she seemed skittish to help him clean as his strength regained each day. She struggled with so many emotions. He pursed his lips at the thought, glad, at least, she was thinking about him.

Her feet shifted on the ground. He'd heard her from the beginning. So she had finished at the Temple and missed him again. Did she not understand that he could feel her presence? There was no reason to secretly follow him, when the following wasn't actually a secret. She'd been there the day he'd found the Command Shuttle disabled and ransacked. She'd also been there the day he'd learned the Tie-Fighters and his men were under the sea. He'd walked the whole island with her mysteriously in tow. She watched but never uttered a word. Several times now, he'd wondered why she even bothered. Perhaps her Master wanted Ren watched at all times. Today, in Ren's fleeting vanity, he almost wondered if she was desperate to see him in the buff again. He would punish her for it.

"If you're going to stand there and stare from the bushes, why don't you join me, wife?"

He heard her move and then silence. She was holding her breath and would say nothing. He learned quickly that honest requests did nothing for her. His wife required provoking. It was the only time she would speak to him.

"Or should I say, cousin?"

"Argh!" She roared with irritation.

At least now she acknowledged him. To Ren's surprise, she emerged from hiding and faced him. Today, she was feeling especially bold. And, there was nothing she hated more than being accused of belonging to his family. It would have been insulting, if Ren weren't so proud of the truth.