Ordered

Chapter 21 - In Which Rey Visits The Temple

(Chapter Rating: T)

Sunrise. She'd miss it, if she didn't hurry. Fumbling with her shoes, she was finally ready. The door pulled to with a mild creak. It made the hairs on her neck prickle, knowing he'd hear. Perhaps, afterwards, she'd pluck some oil spray from the Command Shuttle and fix that, too. It was lucky First Order ships were so well stocked.

She scurried down the winding path towards the Temple. Her back hurt, unable to get comfortable during the night. This couldn't go on. When Luke had hauled his nephew's scarred body into the house, it had been an emergency. Luke placed Ben into the nearest room from the door. Which just so happened to be the room she called her own. As a round-the-clock nurse, she'd been hard pressed not to sleep on the floor, or sometimes in a chair, her hand on his chest to make sure he was still breathing.

But, now, he was well. Or well enough. Well enough to fake being pitiful. Well enough to try to shock her. Well enough to reach out and touch her. Well enough to talk about, and she didn't want to think it, intimacy. If he didn't stop, she might end up in his arms once more. That kiss couldn't happen again. Walking in the sand yesterday, toes in the water, she'd decided that. Even if Luke was right and Snoke supplied the darkness, the tipping point, that turned his nephew into Kylo Ren, this was no time for sentiment! It was distracting! Luke would be distressed to learn she harbored forbidden desires.

They had a mission. The clones had to be stopped. And, there was still the First Order to consider. Snoke. It might never end, the fighting, and their struggle. They had to remain objective. Focused. Luke would not be with them forever. They had to learn what they could from him before it was too late. She took a deep breath. That was her problem entirely. If she was going to be any help, she needed to learn. Luke didn't have much time.

Reaching the entrance of the Temple, she'd made it in time. Pausing, she watched the sun rise from the lovely, cliff-like view. The dark sky changed from shades of blue to orange, as birds flew over the waves, calling for the their breakfast. The sight was renewing. The day was entirely fresh and full of possibility.

Seeking a few more moments of bright solace, her plan afterwards was to meditate in the Temple. She would reach out to the Force and the ancient Jedi of the past for their guidance and wisdom. A heavy weight plagued her heart. It might take hours to find her answer.

When she finished, it would be time for lunch and Ben would be waiting, calmly allowing his glaze to follow her ever movement in the kitchen. Over their meal she'd find a way to breach the subject of their sleeping arrangements. During her time plundering through the Command Shuttle, she'd noticed a bed in private quarters, she assumed, were his own. Surely, he would see the reason in camping there. It was only proper. When Luke returned, he'd have his room, Rey would have her room back, and Ben could stay in his shuttle. There simply wasn't time to build onto the house.

She could almost taste the salt in the sea air. Today was a new day.