Let the Light In

Chapter 37: Directive

Chapter 37: Directive

Rey awoke to repeating thuds with her mind fuzzy and her body heavy. One bleary glance around the room showed her that light was filtering in. Rey guessed she had slept for about four or five hours. Four or five glorious, dream-free hours. There was a subdued, almost humming, presence in her mind, and Rey found that Ben was still there. He had not left, although...Rey huffed a tiny laugh when she realised why his consciousness was so unresponsive. He had fallen asleep too.

She let her head fall back onto her pillow, her eyes closed again, and smiled just for herself.

Then the banging started up again, and she realised that it was coming from her door.

Sighing, Rey hauled herself out of bed and made her groggy way towards the offending noise.

At least Ben was still sleeping, and didn't have to deal with this kind of wake-up. At least, not yet.

She hit the unlock pad to be greeted by a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Finn, arm slung casually around the waist of an equally as upbeat Poe. Both of them had their free hands raised in readiness for another bout of knocking.

"Finn, Poe," Rey croaked, sleep still thick in her voice as she scoped the two of them out, not missing their mutual blushes as her gaze ran over their embrace, "I highly doubt you got any sleep last night, so I'm just gonna ask what the hell you're doing waking me up this early?"

Finn chuckled, then whispered loudly to Poe, "I don't think she's a morning person."

"Oh I'm a brilliant morning person, just not when I'm woken up at the crack of dawn."

"More like crack of noon, sweets," Poe laughed, "You went to bed at dawn."

Rey rubbed the heels of her hands over her eyes, "Frack, right." She sighed. "So what's the great big emergency that warrants my immediate attention?"

"Luke and Leia want to see you-" Finn said.

Rey was instantly awake, as if cold water had been dumped on her head.

"-Fate of the Galaxy and whatnot," he drawled, not noticing her sudden lucidity.

"Give me ten minutes."

Rey did not wait for a response, and shut the door in their stunned faces.

As quick as only a guilty person could be, Rey washed up and got changed into a set of new dark navy robes that she found in her closet.

It was a set similar to the ones she had worn on Hoth, only, the high-necked cuirass had a more traditional draped hemline ending just above her knees. Rey had to admit, the warmer style was far more suited to these non-desert planets and space travel than her old clothes had been. Not to mention far more comfortable.

Itching for a change, she decided to tie her long hair into a braid, and clasped it into a folded bun on the back of her head.

Finn and Poe were still standing outside of her door when she burst out, hastily clipping her saber onto her belt.

They appraised her with wide eyes as she closed the door and keyed in the lock.

"...What?"

While Finn nodded appreciatively, Poe let out a long, low whistle.

Thank the Force Ben was still asleep, calm in her mind.

She could use his tranquillity to keep her own nerves in check.

When the two men in front of her exaggeratedly checked her out from head to toe, Rey rolled her eyes and headed in the direction of Leia's official chamber. Finn and Poe followed closely, still muttering about her latest look with overacted glee and fascination.