Bond (Kylo Ren x Rey)

Brief

She needs to talk to him. Ben. He went all the way to Jakku for her. He brought her childhood doll back for her. No one had ever shown her such kindness. Her life on Jakku had been a wasteland, void of any compassion from others. They would kick her down when she was weak and steal her most precious scraps. If she had successfully obtained food for the day, it was often stolen from her. Rey had to learn how to be independent and hardened towards others for her own safety. But here and now, this man had done something for her without any intention other than to return a treasure safely to its owner. If he had done so just to garner thanks or favor with Rey, he wouldn't have left so suddenly. Without a word. Just a flash in the night.

Rey had to thank him. After her conversation with General Leia, her heart was bursting with love for this man who's light had been growing steadily ever since she met him. Their last interaction had been rough. He had said brutal things to her that cut her to the core. But wasn't it the way of the light to forgive others? To look towards their most beautiful qualities? The doll was his way of apologizing, his way of bridging the ravine he had carved between them during their last fight.

Sitting in her tent as the early morning rays of the sun slowly trickled in, Rey acted on a moment of compassionate impulse. She closed her eyes, focusing on the what his Force signature felt like. It had been like the ocean, with gentle currents keeping her afloat and cradling her. She combed through pinpricks of light, people that didn't hold a candle to the massive waves of energy that Ben constantly gave off. Finally finding her target, Rey ran toward it, pushing tendrils of the Force out to meet it and bring him closer. She tentatively tugged the bond closer and opened her eyes.

He was there. Ben must have anticipated her appearance because he was standing expectantly towards her. They were in his quarters. Every time she appeared there, Rey marveled at the lack of decoration, of personality throughout the room. Furniture was sparse and black. A few crumbling, ancient books sat on a plain bookshelf beside his standard-issue bed. Then there was Ben Solo himself. Anguish was written on his face. His dark eyes pleaded with her, and he bit his lower lip in anxiety. She could feel the maelstrom of emotions radiating off of him, bombarding and tangling in her Force signature. Her eyes locked on his.

"B-ben," she said taking a cautious step forward, decreasing the space between the pair. Why was she so nervous? Why was she shaking? Rey was rattled, looking at the man who had fought against her and who fought for her. Expressing herself usually came naturally, but in this case, she was caught up in her emotions and didn't know how to unknot them. There was a nervous glint in his eye.

Rey continued, "I w-wanted to thank--"

Before she could finish showing her gratitude, Ben shut his eyes as a tear crossed the threshold and trailed down his cheek. Then he was gone. He had disappeared across the bond, and she was left in her own tent. Shaken to her core.

----

Ben had been scared. As soon as he saw her appear, he had panicked. Was she here about the doll? Did she think he had invaded her privacy? Did she believe it was part of a malicious act? Those thoughts were dashed as he looked down at her face. Her features were softened, such a stark contrast from the face of stone she had created during their previous encounter. It had been all his fault. He had tried to tear her down for his own sanity. It hadn't worked.

Her eyes looked up at his, and he was reminded of the moment in the elevator when she had confessed her vision of his future. Of him turning. In that moment she had been so delicate and strong simultaneously. A flower that bloomed even in the barren desert. This was how she had seemed when she appeared to him moments ago. Rey's hair was messy, like she had just woken up. Like wanting to see him had bee the first thought in her mind that morning. His heart beat wildly, threatening to break out of the cage that was his chest.

Then she had opened her mouth. That's when it all went to hell. Rey was thanking him? No, he couldn't take it; he still didn't deserve it. People like him didn't get that luxury, that privilege from people like her. She didn't even get to finish her sentence as he severed the image of her from the bond. As he sunk onto the bed, Ben realized that his cheeks were wet. Her simple action of thanking--or trying to thank--him had wrenched his heart. This scavenger, this Jedi, still cared for him. How? One meager attempt at making things right didn't redeem him. It didn't erase the hurt that he had caused her and this entire goddamn galaxy. He raised his gloves to his eyes to wipe away the tears there, reminded of her interaction with him in the rain. It seemed like eons ago. Before he had the promise of hope.

There wasn't time to mull on his brief interaction with Rey, because there was a buzz at the door. Ben walked swiftly to a switch on the wall, opening the large black door to reveal a surprisingly gleeful General Hux. Why was he so happy? Did he just come back from torturing some poor soul?

"Supreme Leader, we have intercepted a message from the Resistance. They are refueling on the planet Vrogas Vas in two standard days."

This was the first good lead the First Order had obtained in weeks. The general was practically jumping up and down with morbid excitement.

"What do you suggest, Hux?" Ben replied, not bothering to pick a fight. He felt tired from his brief interaction with Rey.

"We should arrive shortly after Resistance, surprising them at their weakest. They are so few in number that catching them while they are refueling at their most vulnerable will put a quick and permanent stop to this rebellion nonsense. Those fools will pay for the trouble they have caused. We will snuff them out for good," General Hux's grin was unnerving.

The residual darkness in Ben's heart rose up at the words. It howled at the foreseeable pleasure in watching his enemies fall before him. Before the light could peek through, the Supreme Leader responded with a smirk.

"Make the preparations."

General Hux bowed and swiveled on his heel, striding out the door and towards the deck. And Ben Solo was left to reap the consequences of his actions. His decision had been made in the darkness. Now looking at it in the light, he realized there had been no other choice but this. If he had rejected Hux's idea, it would have sown seeds of doubt in the general's mind. He would have guessed at reasons as to why Ben would possibly turn down an easy shot at the Resistance. Mind racing, Ben Solo pictured Hux planning a rebellion and staging a coup against his own Supreme Leader. No, this was the only option he had.

He thought of Rey and guilt crept into his gut. He would have to fight her. Maybe he could turn her on the battlefield? Steal her away and convince her of the rightness of the First Order? No, he had been doubting that "rightness" for a long time. It had been building over the months. This iron grip on the galaxy, this murderous regime is not what he wanted. Ben Solo couldn't see a way out of being Kylo Ren.

--------

Come on now, Ben don't be rude let Rey finish her sentence! Featuring: Hux being sadistic and Ben realizing that his beliefs don't align with the First Order's!

Let me know what you think! Thanks for all the love!:)