Confronting Fear

Morning

Have you forgotten all I know
And all we had?
You saw me mourning my love for you
And touched my hand
I knew you loved me then.

Taking Over Me - Evanescence

Kylo woke suddenly, his hands disappointingly empty, the nightmare fresh in his mind. Instinctively, he sought Rey out through the Force, needing to feel her reassuring energy after the events of the night. He breathed a sigh of relief as her essence flooded his mind, soothing him.

He groaned as he rolled out of bed, checking the chronometer set into the wall. He fumbled with the com-link next to it, finally connecting to Lt. Mitaka on the bridge. "Lieutenant, call a meeting of the entire high command. I want them assembled in the throne room in an hour." The terrified man didn't have a chance to respond before Kylo closed the link.

Reopening the connection to Rey, he spoke directly to her mind, We have our meeting with the high command in an hour. Be ready, try to look imposing.

Kylo silently wondered how she was going to manage that. While she secretly scared the hell out of him, her petite stature and open face didn't exactly convey intimidation in the traditional sense.

He grumbled a string of obscenities as he made his way to the refresher to get ready himself.

Rey silently cursed after Kylo's abrupt announcement into her mind. She had hoped after last night that something might have changed between them, but it appeared she was wrong. The nightmare had been so real. She remembered his gentle, soothing touch as he comforted her. She'd been vulnerable and he'd been respectful. Ben.

She set the mug of caf down on the counter. Having been awake for a full hour she had already eaten and freshened up.She rolled her eyes at his instructions. Just what the fuck did "look imposing" even mean? Her own clothes were drying across a rack in the fresher after she carefully scrubbed them in the sink. That meant it had to be something from the wardrobe. She hoped she would know it when she saw it.

An hour later, Kylo pressed the switch to the com-link on Rey's door, letting her know he was about to enter. The rooms were soundproof and she wouldn't have heard him knock. He entered the main seating area, the door to her bed chamber was closed but he noted the used caf mug and plate on the kitchenette counter with approval. She was awake and she'd eaten.

At that moment, Rey emerged from the bed chamber and Kylo had to look twice to convince himself he wasn't seeing things. She was wearing a dusky purple tunic that ended mid-calf in the back but was open in the front from the hips down creating an upside down V over her legs. The tunic was high- necked and trimmed in silver along the hem, cuffs and at the waist. Below that she wore simple, fitted black leggings and knee high black leather boots. Topping off the ensemble was a long black cape flowing from her shoulders with simple silver clasps. The outfit was modest, but was perfectly tailored so it hugged her every curve. Her hair was pulled back into a simple braid wound into a knot in the back. She had left a few wisps of hair loose, softening her face.

"What do you think?" She asked self-consciously.

What did he think? He thought she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He thought about pressing her against the wall and kissing her senseless. He thought he felt his pants tightening a bit in the groin.

He stepped forward, reaching out to tuck a loose wisp of hair behind her ear, his fingertips cupping her soft cheek. "You look perfect."

She blushed at the compliment, as they locked eyes, her soft gaze meeting his darker one. Time stood still for a second as she reached up with her own hand to trace the mark she'd left on his cheek.

The moment was broken as the com on Kylo's wrist buzzed, Lt. Mitaka quietly informing them that the high command was assembled. He inwardly cursed as he thought about choking Mitaka for interrupting when next he saw him. He motioned to Rey to follow him.

Neither mentioned the night's activities.

Once in the corridor Kylo suddenly remembered something. Rey looked at him quizzically at the abrupt stop. He reached to his belt and unhooked her light saber from where it sat next to his, and offered it to her. She silently took it from him and clipped it to her own silvery belt. "Just for the next few hours, Little Jedi."

Rey rolled her eyes at the nickname and followed him into the turbolift, her mind drifting back to the touch they shared a few moments ago. Maker, why had she done that?

She turned to Kylo, "So what exactly is going on here? Why must I look intimidating?"

"We're meeting with the high command so that I may introduce you to them as their new superior. They need to respect you and your new authority over them in case the time comes when you must be making the decisions."

Rey's mind reeled a bit at this. Authority? She didn't want authority. She wanted to depose Palpatine and get back to her life with the Resistance. She knew in theory that she might have to be in charge at some point, but hadn't had time to imagine what that looked like. It occurred to her for the first time that Kylo Ren had actually been serious when he said he wanted them to rule together.

Palpatine. The word hung darkly in her mind. Who he was, what it all meant.

Ren seemed to have caught the change in her mood as she felt his Force touch her's in a way that she interpreted as reassuring.

The lift beeped to let them know they had arrived at their destination. Kylo put on the mask she hated so much with a hiss before they stepped into the corridor.