A Prologue
“You need a teacher,” He hissed through clenched teeth, dark eyes burning with…. Determination? Pleading? “I can show you the ways of the Force.”
The tension in the air was palpable, and Rey could swear she could taste the pain and desperation that rolled off Kylo as their lightsabers hissed and hummed, a crackle of red clashing against the steady throb of blue. Her eyes closed, and Kylo let out a heavy sigh before his voice piped up again, his tone quiet and full of sadness. “ Please don’t make me kill you too .”
That was when her eyes slowly opened, staring into his dark brown, nearly black irises, before whispering a hushed “ Why do you care? ” and Kylo retreated, his blade smoothly sliding against hers before taking a step back, his free hand once again pounding on his wound as his lightsaber crackled and fizzled out in the snow.
“ I said that it meant nothing to me- I thought it didn’t. I’m being torn apart.” His voice rang out in the crisp air. “On the bridge. I didn’t just kill my father.” His composure was regained after a moment of weakness, his lightsaber once again flickering into life. “ I killed your uncle .” Rey’s brow furrowed as they stared at each other in silence, the only sounds being the distant sound of blasterfire and explosions. “You’re my cousin , Rey. You’re the only one I didn’t kill in the temple fifteen years ago, and you’re the only one I’m not going to kill now.” He took in a sharp breath, holding out a cautious hand towards the scavenger. “Don’t make me kill you, please. Let me teach you. ” There was obvious hesitation on Rey’s behalf, as her own weapon hung limp at her side. “You have nothing to go back to!” He continued, the desperation in his voice quickly borderlining hysteria. “Your father, Luke Skywalker , abandoned you! I’m the only one who still cares! General Organa, Chewbacca, any of them! If they cared aboutyou , they would’ve come back for you!” His face was damp, hair clinging to the back of his neck as his hand continued to stretch out in front of him, a silent plea to his cousin.
“ Why didn’t you come get me, then? ” Her voice was still quiet, an eyebrow raised tentatively at her supposed cousin.
“I couldn’t!” His voice wobbled, still thick with a sort of longing for his cousin. For the only one he couldn’t kill. “Leader Snoke forbade me from attachment to my family, he said you would only be a distraction! I would’ve come for you if I were able!” There were tears rolling down his cheeks now, mingling with sweat and sleet. “Please. Let me teach you. ”
Her hand tentatively reached out for his, her throat feeling thick and tight. “What of Finn? What would become of him?” She finally said, her hand still inches from Kylo’s.
“Whatever you want of him.” He sounded truly desperate now, his fingers nearly clawing at the air in an attempt to bring her closer. “The traitor will be forgotten amongst our ranks, his records will be cleared if you so wish.”
There was another palpable moment of hesitation, before she finally took his hand, gripping the mingling texture of fabric and leather. “Allow the Resistance fighters and Chewie to escape. We take Finn with us, nurse him back to health, then you send him to the Resistance. Don’t keep him in this poison place anymore than needed. And… I’ll let you teach me.” Her sentence was final as her lightsaber switched off, her hand delicately gripping the cold metal of the weapon.
“Very well.” He nodded, and switched off his own blade- clipping it to his belt before gripping her hand lightly, then letting go- turning around to go find Finn in the snow.
~~~
The next few… What were they? Hours? Days? went by in a hazy blur for Rey, the obvious hostility towards her being kept at bay only by the Master of the Knights of Ren- her cousin not hesitating to mow down anyone who _ dared speak ill of her- save for two people. General Hux- a man whose name she later learned to be Bill, and Captain Phasma, a powerful woman who, in all honesty, took Rey’s breath away whenever she spoke. There was a lengthy period of bickering between Kylo, Hux, and Phasma, angry hisses from the General of “ You’ve been distracted from the mission ” and dangerous statements on behalf of the Captain, claims of “ Morale is falling because of the presence of the traitor, we cannot continue to house him” followed by a monotone reply from Kylo, a simple “I know what I’m doing.” which usually brought an end to the conversation.
Rey spent most of her time, when she could, in the medical wing, sitting a silent vigil next to Finn. When she wasn’t there, she was hooked up to devices and machines to prove whether or not she had an intention of betraying the First Order. She didn’t. Not when her friend’s safety was on the line. Lie detectors sat silent as she answered question after question, heart rate monitors stayed at a leisurely pace as she underwent trial after trial, created by a pair of First Order officers that clearly doubted her loyalty.
And then, one day, the tests ceased. Captain Phasma approached her in the medical ward and, through gritted teeth, stated “Your loyalty has been questioned enough. You have free range of the ship. Do not make us regret this decision.” And then she left, turning sharply on a chrome heel and leaving Rey with a dull sense of want.