Bond (Kylo Ren x Rey)

Board

Kylo lay in his bunk hours later. He was the Supreme Leader now, but he kept his same old quarters. He had no need for the grandeur of Snoke's former living space. Brushing the strands of raven hair from his face, he turned over onto his side and faced the wall. The scavenger wouldn't get out of his head. The way the little girl had smiled had lit up Rey's face. The imprint of her grin was burned into his brain. He had been trying to sleep for several hours and was unsuccessful. Sleep was out of his reach at this point.

Then he reached out, mentally searching the galaxy for a Force signature. Her Force signature. He closed his eyes as the minutes passed by, and he focused his energy on combing through the billions of people. But it was easier than he expected. It's like the bond they shared pulled him to Rey. He had found her. Or at least he had found her mind. He couldn't see her, and he was glad. The last time he had seen her he had broken down. The last time they had looked each other in the eye he had done something he would come to regret. He didn't want to take that chance again.

Rey's signature seemed dormant. She must be sleeping. It was a calm light against the darkness of the energy around her. It was beautiful. Why was he here? Did he not learn his lesson the first time? He didn't have time to answer those questions before he was sucked into a memory.

Beams of light cut through small bolt holes in the hull of a metal beast. Kylo looked around him, analyzing the panelling. He was inside an ancient, overturned AT-AT. Surrounding him were piles of wiring, dusty circuit boards, and other bits of machinery. Over in the corner was a girl sitting in a mass of patched up blankets. The three buns made her instantly recognizable. She couldn't have been older than ten years. Rey's face was scrunched with determination as she fiddled with an object in her hands. Kylo tentatively took steps forward to get a closer look. Her face had a smudge of grease on it, most likely from nicking parts from the graveyard of broken ships that was Jakku. Upon closer inspection, he could see that little Rey had fashioned a shard of metal into a needle and was putting the finishing touches on what looked to be a doll of some sort. She held up the cloth figure, scanning it surface for any loose threads. It was crudely fashioned, but as she lifted it in her hands, Kylo was able to discern the orange and white of a Rebellion pilot uniform. Just like his uncle's. Happy with her work, Rey positioned the doll in a small metal box. She stood up, taking her creation with her, and began waving it through the air. An X-wing. These were her toys. A soft smile broke out on Kylo's face as she ran around the perimeter of her makeshift home. The "pew pew" noises she made for her X-wing echoed and bounced off the thick metal walls. This was as happy as she would be on such a cruel planet.

Kylo opened his eyes to see the confines of his quarters on the Finalizer. He was back in reality. He took a couple deep breaths, steadying himself from the memory unknowingly offered to him by a sleeping Rey. She had always wanted to fly off that planet. He was overwhelmed by how difficult her life must have been. From such a small age, Rey had been forced to provide for herself. She had been alone. Kylo knew that no matter how alone he had felt, he had always had his family. They had not understood him, and he had spurned them for it, but in the end, he had still had family.

"You're nothing, but not to me."

He hadn't meant it that way. To hurt her. He had tried to express his need for her to be by his side but had let his residual anger from the clash with the Praetorian guards cloud his words. She was everything to him. The only person who fought by his side and supported him even when he had done horrible things. And then he had told her she was nothing. How could he ever make up for that. Kylo knew he couldn't. She was lost to him. Even in his sorrow, he wanted to know more. More about her. Sitting up in bed, he resolved to be active instead of tossing and turning in a sleepless, guilty haze. Kylo pulled on his tunic but left his cowl lying on the ground. He wouldn't need it where he was going.

He swiftly paced down the hallway, cloak swishing back and forth in his wake. The crew mulling about in the corridor wouldn't meet his eye. He was on a mission, and the look on his face told them as much. Reaching the main deck, Kylo came across Hux, who was snidely commenting on the askew nature of a lieutenant's uniform.

"Ah Hux, just who I wanted to see."

Looking up from the terrified crew member, Hux simpered, "What do you require, most Supreme Leader?"

"I need you to ready my ship. I will be leaving shortly," Kylo ordered.

"For what reason?"

"None of your business," he stated, swiveling towards the hangar with his cloak flaring into Hux's face. It might have been on purpose. The general's face went crimson as he seemed to bite down any insults directed towards his Supreme Leader. It was definitely on purpose.

By the time Kylo reached the hangar, a small ship had been prepared for him. Crew scuttled away as he promptly walked up the ramp and boarded his Upsilon-class command shuttle. He reclined in the pilot's chair, flipping on the controls and keying in coordinates. As Kylo exited the Finalizer in his ship, he felt a weight lifted off of him. Like the darkness of the First Order couldn't touch him. His own darkness was ever-present, however, no matter how hard he tried to shake it sometimes. Mainly around her.

Hours later he touched down on a familiar planet. Sand shifted under his heels.

---------

Happy Valentine's Day! This chapter isn't very Valentine's-y, but I hope you like it anyway! Also sending love to y'all and your loved ones as well! Have a great day!:)