Confronting Fear

Bargains

"Well, I know a thing about contrition
Because I got enough to spare
And I'll be granting your permission
'Cause you haven't got a prayer"

House of Wolves - My Chemical Romance

Kylo didn't realize he was holding his breath until she stood before him. He let it out slowly. How was it that her mere presence could affect him this way? He had barely dared dream that she would agree, that she would come to her senses and realize this was where she belonged. With him.

He shook himself out of his mental daze. He took a small step forward, as if to show to their new audience that he was still in control of the situation. "Name them," lowering his hand as he spoke.

"My friends are still on board this ship. I want them to be allowed to leave, today in the Millennium Falcon and the Bestoon Legacy, unharmed."

Fuck. He wanted that piece of junk ship melted down and the traitor to pay for his crimes against the Order, and to shut that cocky pilot up for good. Nothing would give him more satisfaction, except, maybe her cooperation. Was fulfilling those desires worth that cost? A more practical thought struck him as well. Given these insects proclivity for escaping, it might benefit him for them to be elsewhere.

He wasn't even sure why he was entertaining this ridiculous charade. She was trapped, on his ship, surrounded. Her friends were in a holding cell, at his mercy. She was his and there was no way in hell she was leaving. He'd detain her by sheer might if needed. She had no power here, no leverage. But she did, the voice in the back of his mind reminded him. Her willing cooperation will make it easier for her to turn. You want her here by choice. You want her to choose you.

His voice betrayed no emotion or thought as he answered, "Done." He would have more opportunities to deal with the members of the Resistance once Palpatine was gone and Rey stood by his side, for good. What was a few weeks?

Rey continued, "I want to speak with them alone before they leave. They deserve to know why I am doing this."

He mentally analyzed her request. Why was she asking for this, to be alone, with them? Surely a simple explanation of her decision could be accomplished with him present. Was she devising another plan of attack? Or, so she could share a moment with one of them. Her affection for the three wastes of skin currently in a holding cell infuriated him and the thought that she might have more than that for either the pilot or the traitor was enough to make his blood boil. "Alone, but with a camera and recorder, so that I can be sure you're not plotting to attack the Order.

He watched as Rey's mind worked it over. The tension in the air palpable."Done."

"Anything else?"

"You will not attack the Resistance until Palpatine is dealt with. This is not negotiable."

Fuck! He hadn't actually been planning on it, with Palpatine being the far bigger threat, but this directly challenged his power as Supreme Leader, and therefore could not stand. But, he wanted her by his side. She was his only equal in the entire galaxy, that would mean yielding some power to her. He carefully considered his words. "I will not actively seek them out, but if they launch an attack we will defend ourselves to our fullest."

She hesitated, he could feel the turmoil in her Force. "Done. Last, I will not train in the Dark. I join you, as a Jedi, in defeating our common enemy."

This. He had expected this. She was stubborn, this scavenger, but she would understand soon enough. The very blood in her veins ached to be one with the Dark, it was only a matter of time. "If the Force wills it."

He watched as a shadow of doubt flitted across her pretty face - and Maker was she pretty - before she nodded.

He smirked again. "I have a few of my own. You will not try to escape or contact the Resistance for as long as I hold my end of the bargain. And, we will renegotiate once Palpatine has deposed. Oh, and this," her saber flew to his left hand, "stays with me. For now." He held out his right hand expectantly.

Her glare could have melted durasteel. His smirk somehow grew wider, knowing he had tainted such a pure creature with malice. He could feel the tendrils of her Force lightly probing his for information. He cast his Force out to meet hers, feeling the hesitancy and doubt in her decision, her anger at confiscating her saber, but also the concern for her friends. He could hardly stand to say the word, knowing she had once chosen them over him. They were unworthy. They were nothing. She would see that in time.

Apparently she was satisfied with what she found as she placed her hand lightly in his. He felt a shock go through his body as they touched, and flickers of visions passed across his eyes, too quickly to process fully. Them on the throne of the Sith; them in the forest on Takodana; them surrounded by the bodies of their enemies; the two of them in an embrace as the galaxy burned; them in an open meadow watching the sunset. They were all glimpses of them. He opened his eyes to see her staring at him, her hand trembling in his, knowing she had seen it as well. He tightened his grip on her wrist, enjoying the feel of her shaking in his grasp. She was his now. Whether she knew it or not. With a practiced motion he settled the mask back across his face. He removed it for her and no one else. "Come."

A/N hey all! What do you think of Rey's demands? If you liked this chapter leave me a note and a vote!