Together - Part I

It had started on Takodana. That blasted western territory that belonged to Maz Kanata, was where Kylo Ren had first laid eyes on her. Up until that moment in the woods, he had only known her as "the girl." She had quickly became so much more than that. Unlike many he had chased before, she fought back. She was afraid, oh yes, she had been deliciously afraid of him. Cloaked in all black, wearing his famed helmet, and not uttering a word to her until he had her cornered — it was all rather dramatic and mysterious. He believed his grandfather would have been proud.

He had sensed her the second they landed. While the fight raged around him, he had honed in on her signature, unmistakably pure, made of the most innocent light. Ordering the stormtroopers to leave him, he had sought her out alone. "The girl" couldn't possibly outrun him. It had been easy enough to track her. He had briefly wondered what had caused her to venture out alone. The thought had left him as soon as it had come. His mission was to extract the information from her, find the droid, and return with the Skywalker map.

Simple enough.

Their meeting turned out to be anything but simple. Or enough.

She was quick, much faster than he was at moving through the ravine and brush. Her thin limbs carried her so swiftly, like a bird breaking through the treetops toward the unending blue sky. He watched her scale a rock formation, scurrying away from him when she realized her blaster was of little use. There was no time for him to admire her natural skill. Summoning the force, he had put a stop to her escape, freezing her where she stood.

Unleashing his lightsaber, he had questioned her about the droid. Her attention had been stuck on the burning red blade, focused on its energy. All the while he had been observing her. Each shiver of her body, each hitch of her breath, every inconsistent thought that screamed through her mind — he felt a strange draw towards her. There was an unyielding spirit to her. Kylo respected that. It was rare to find in this universe. He had witnessed so many abandon their beliefs, their loyalties, their very soul for one more breathe of life. Selfish, vain creatures that they were. She had done none of those things. She never pleaded. She never begged. She never yielded. It had been ages since he had stalked such captivating prey. He determined it was that and nothing more.

When he had heard of the increased support of the Resistance, he had decided it was in his best interest to take her. Kylo had ignored the small part of himself that found a selfish satisfaction in his choice. He had used the force to knock her unconscious, scooping her up effortlessly and carrying her away. Everyone on the base feared him. He knew without a doubt not a single one of the weak-minded Stormtroopers would raise an eyebrow at his motives. There was only one who would.

Hux. That damned meddling general had always been a thorn in his side. However, as Kylo had rose in both power and favor with the Supreme Leader, Hux had grown more and more intent on undermining him. Kylo would have to be extremely cautious when entering the Starkiller base with his prey. She was certain to draw a few questions from the general. He would need to be efficient in his extraction of information to avoid any further complications with his nemesis.

While the ship had returned to the base, he had sat motionless in his seat, flanked by Stormtroopers. The girl remained in his arms, her breathing soft and feather light against him. Even under his many layers, his skin bristled at the sensation. He flinched, immediately irritated by the feeling.

"Move." He ordered a set of troopers. They scattered from the bench next to him. He laid her down, taking care to keep her face in his direct line of view.

"Sir, shall I put the prisoner in cuffs?" One of the Stormtroopers brought forth two pairs of binds, one for her wrists, and one for her ankles.

"There's no need," he grumbled, waving the man away. All of them seemed to take the hint to leave him alone.

After a few minutes, he removed his helmet, allowing himself to scan her face with his own naked eye. Her skin was tanned from long hours out in the sun. He noticed the speckling of freckles across the bridge of her nose, splaying out along her cheeks. She was thin, almost sickeningly so. However, she was strong, much stronger than he had anticipated. Her aura was vibrant, even in her unconscious state. Her light was positively blinding. Despite himself, he felt drawn to it, like a moth to a flame.

Kylo set his helmet down on his lap, regarding her with another side-long glance. She had naturally curled in on herself, a clear sign she as used to being alone and vulnerable. He reached out to her mind, easily finding answers to his most pressing questions, though the search was entirely selfish and had nothing to do with the orders he had received. The more he dug, the more intrigued he became.

Then he saw him — Han Solo — his father had brought the girl to Maz's castle. He was doting on her, treating her as if she was his daughter. Han mentioned the Force, discussing his skepticism, a belief Kylo remembered from an early age. His father had never been one to buy into the power that surged through his veins, even denied his own wife's capabilities. He was more ease around those like him, outcasts, ruffians — then there was this girl. She had made an impact on him with her expert mechanical knowledge, earning some of his highest praise. Kylo felt his hands clench into fists at her happy memory, so full of joy and admiration. Of course she would admire Han Solo, the infamous smuggler, the rebel who helped bring down the Death Star, the criminal who married a princess. It must had been like a fairy tale come true to her. She had no idea how wrong she was about the man.

Apparently she was not a good judge of character, because the next person he saw in her mind was FN-2187. Traitor, Kylo's thought hissed across his own mind, as his fists shook at his sides. He watched as the ex-Stormtrooper lied to the girl, told her that he was with the Resistance. Even Kylo's scruffy, nerf-herder of a father had seen through that act, but not the girl. She wasn't unintelligent. No, he had seen she was capable of survival in some backwater trash of a planet, which made her both resourceful and clever. However, she did have an uncanny and annoying habit of seeing only the good in others. She was so hopeful.

Hope, he scoffed. Another Resistance lie. There was no such thing. There was only chaos or order. The rebels thrived on chaos. They needed it. He preferred everything to have its place and run on time. The First Order would bring structure and organization to the galaxy. They would end the rebellion. They would build peace instead of spouting useless speeches and false beliefs to appease nations for a time, until it all fell back into chaos.

Perhaps he could convince the girl to join them. She had impressed him enough during their short encounter for Kylo to consider her worthy of the regime. If the Supreme Leader didn't order him to execute her, he'd contemplate asking her. The idea was tempting and he couldn't stop himself from running a further examination of her mind. What he uncovered led him to believe it was a lost cause. He doubted she would switch sides. She was terribly naive. However, Kylo had never shied away from a challenge. He could be rather persuasive, when the occasion called for it.

Backing out of her mind, he returned his helmet to its rightful place, concealing his face as he attempted to also conceal his motives for kidnapping the girl — this scavenger from Jakku. And that was where it had all started.

That was the first time they were together.

Rey was enveloped in darkness. Her body felt weightless as it drifted through the oblivion. She had forgotten why she was running, forgotten what she was looking for, forgotten it all. Here she was alone, but she wasn't frightened. The black comforted her, held her close, kept her safe and hidden. There was no pain. There was no disappointment. She was safe.

Safe.

That title didn't sound right. She scrunched up her face. The dark shifted, sensing her consciousness coming forward. Her head was swimming with memories, thoughts, feelings…some of which she didn't know to be hers.

She had felt the presence of another before she had opened her eyes. At first, she believed herself to be dreaming. When she did break through the dizzying collection, she jumped. The clacking sound of metal on metal jarring her from her softer dreamscape into the reality she found herself in.

The chair, if you could call it that, to which she was bound was made of pure steel. The cold began seeping into her skin through her garments, adding to the chill of the vented air in the room. Glancing down at her bound limbs, she had started to feel her survival instincts kick in. Eyeing the shackles, she tried to make sense of where the binds were the weakest and where she might apply leverage to break them open. Her thoughts were shut-down prematurely, as the growing awareness that she as being watched became too powerful. It forced her to look over to the masked villain who had assaulted her outside Maz's castle.

He was hunched over on the floor, probably kneeling, his head inclined up to stare at her. For how long he had waited in that position for her to awaken, she was unsure. It was unnerving to know he had probably been with her the entire time she had been unconscious. Creep, she immediately thought, feeling the urge to lunge forward and kick that despicable piece of metal off of his head.

"Where am I?"

She heard him breath through the oscillator, as if he was stifling a chuckle. "You're my guest."

Poor choice of words, she thought, as she watched him watching her. "Where are the others?" she asked, noting how her voice came out a bit stronger this time.

"You mean the murders, traitors, and thieves you call friends? You'll be relieved to hear, I have no idea."

How dare he? How dare he take her away from her first real friends? From a job offer? From a place she could have returned to one day and called home? She had planned on going back to Jakku, yes, in order to find answers about her parents. Once she had that, she could rejoin Han and Chewie, take him up on his offer, earn some money to help her search. She could travel the galaxy, if she had to, in order to find them. Perhaps she'd be lucky enough to run into Finn again. He had been so kind to her, like the older brother she had never had. Perhaps they would see each other again. First she had to get out of here…wherever here was.

Rey mustered up her best defiant glare.

He tilted his head at her, as if her gaze had been a verbal retort he found amusing. "You still want to kill me?"

"That happens when you're being hunted by a creature in a mask," she snapped.

Wordlessly, he reached up, engaging the release mechanism in his helmet and in one swift movement, discarding it from his face. He stood as he removed the metal accessory, showcasing his full height. She recalled him being tall, menacing when he had chased her on Takodana. Seeing him standing before her now gave her new appreciation for just how much larger than her he truly was.

Rey forgot to breathe for a second. Her focus had gone to his face. He was much younger than she had envisioned upon hearing his altered voice. He looked as though he was not much older than her, with shoulder length raven hair and piercing eyes. He wasn't classically handsome. His nose and his ears were disproportioned for his face, but she found him attractive none-the-less. It was an unwanted and inappropriate thought, considering her current predicament. Regardless, one realization reigned true. The man in front of her was definitely not what she had been expecting.

They regarded one another in silence. Smaller details began to become apparent. He had dark rings under his eyes, illustrating that he hadn't slept well in quite some time. Though he had a broad, muscular build, she sensed he was self-conscious. There was a slight unease to the way he stared her down. His eyes were the most telling. They were dark and deep. They were laced with pain, so much pain. She was sure she had never seen another living soul baring the same amount of suffering.

Rey struggled to keep her face passive, but her surprise flickered across her face. He must have taken that as a sign of weakness, because he moved closer to her. She felt fear seize her. There was a slamming sound that echoed through the chamber, as he placed the helmet down. She kept her eyes on the wall straight ahead, as he moved into her line of vision, as if she could stare directly through him.

"Tell me about the droid."

Kriff, she thought, as she recalled BB-8 telling her his mission was classified. Well, he hadn't said what he wanted to know…

"He's a BB unit with a selenium drive and a thermal hyperscan vindicator."

He didn't seem to appreciate her sense of humor. His voice cut her off before she could finish. "It's carrying a section of a navigational chart. And we have the rest, recovered from the archives of the Empire, but we need the last piece. And somehow you convinced the droid to show it to you."

She remained silent. She would not — could not — betray BB-8 or the Resistance. Not for this monster. She'd rather die.

"You. A scavenger."

She hated the way he said the word. Scavenger. He may as well have called her bantha fodder. The underlying insult was the same. Foul beast of a man. He looked too clean, too well-kept to have ever known the struggles she had encountered almost daily. He sat here in his sterile ship, looking down on the rest of the universe with his clean clothes, full belly, and wanting for nothing. He had no right to talk down to her. She had faced far worse than him. Force or no force. He was just a coward in a mask. She had been correct in calling him a monster.

"You know I can take whatever I want."

Rey felt it then, the pressure of his invasion in her mind. Her breath came in spurts, as she willed herself to remain steady against his advance. She was acutely aware of his hand, raised near her face. The scent of leather filling her nostrils, as she felt her head screaming at the attack. The pressure started out similar to a headache coming on, as if she had toiled too long out in the Jakku sun. As he pushed further, the pain increased.

Part of her was aware he was speaking to her. The words fell away. She could barely see him anymore. Instead she was seeing flashes of her own life. She saw herself alone on Jakku, before she saved BB-8, before she met Finn at the outpost, and before she had flown the Millennium Falcon. The echo of her past played before her like a holo. Rey watched herself hoarding small objects she had found while scavenging. None of them were worth much, if anything. They were no good being traded. Still, she had so few personal belongings that these felt like treasures. She watched as she housed the collection in her abandoned AT-AT, organizing it in a particular fashion so she could keep her eye on the new items from her hammock bed.

Another vision — or memory — showed her in her young teens, being asked by a traveling missionary why she didn't leave. He offered her a spot on his ship, bound for Yavin 4. She politely declined before Unkar could over hear. She didn't need to feel his wrath or take another beating. She had too much work to do. Besides, if she left now, she may never see her family again. She needed to wait until they came back. They were coming for her. She had had the feeling as long as she could remember. Her family would find her. They would take her away from Jakku.

"And Han Solo…"

Her senses snapped together at the name. She saw Han, recalling how easy he was to talk to. Growing up, he was a legend, a myth of a man. His adventures, his ship, his success in the war had been comforting to her as a small child. He embodied all that she wished to be. He had come from nothing, turned out to be a hero. Meeting him, flying with him had made her feel worthy. It had given her a chance to forget her worthless past, her limited existence. The way he had looked at her, as if she was a bright star, made her feel loved, even if it was only for a second.

Kylo Ren's next words came out quick, as if he was working to hide something. Rey had spent enough time dodging other scavengers and ruffians to know when someone was attempting to conceal a secret. A flicker of an undefined emotion passed over his eyes. There was something there — something he did not want to admit, either to her or to himself.

"You feel like he's the father you never had. He would have disappointed you."

"Get out of my head," she managed to hiss back at him. She was pleasantly surprised when he did step back, his hand shifting along with the rest of him as he came to stand in front of her once more. He recovered quickly, once again asking for the map.

No, she thought, wanting to shake her head. She didn't. She gritted her teeth, preparing for another assault on her mind. Rey wondered how long he'd push against her. The invisible influence pried at the forefront of her mind. She took another deep breath, feeling sweat beading on her brow at the physical exertion to withstand it. For a second, her gaze jumped to the ceiling. There were no vents or openings in the panels that she could manipulate if she were to escape her shackles. The door was beginning to look like it was her only option. That would prove to be tricky.

As he continued to press against her, Rey became aware of another sensation. It wasn't a demanding pressure, the way his mental search was. The sensation was something entirely different. She compared it to a double-headed sand serpent, slithering between them, before it suddenly latched on at both ends - her and him. She jolted slightly at the shock of it, noticing how his head tilted ever so slightly at the same time.

"Don't be afraid. I feel it too."

His words scared her. What was it? What was happening to them? She wished she would have paid more attention to the travelers at the outputs who spun stories around the Force. Maybe if she had given it more thought, instead of casting it aside as superstition, she would understand. Clearly, she had misjudged the ancient power. The man in front of her has already illustrated what it can do. And the vision at Maz's castle still terrified her.

But she refused to yield.

"I'm not giving you anything." The last word came out roughly, but she felt him being held at bay. She didn't fall under the same spell as last time. This time she was conscious, able to focus on him and the room with absolute clarity. She had been in fights before, far more than she can count or remember. Others had often misjudged her due to her size, but she had learned to hold her own from a young age. This man, Force powers or not, would not beat her. She had been in combat against his type before.

"We'll see."

Rey wasn't sure if his retort was to her verbal refusal or her inner thoughts. It was hard to determine with the glare he was flashing at her.

She reached towards the serpentine thread connecting them. Her curiosity had gotten the better of her and while she was still resisting him, another part of her raced down the path that had been opened by the cord. It was a push-pull see-saw of energy for several moments. Time ticked by. Rey was barely aware of it. She found herself leaning forward, out of the chair. The harder he pressed her, the further she dove into the connection.

Then suddenly the pressure was gone.

"You…"

She was overcome by a strange, peaceful sensation, as if she had just come up to the surface after almost drowning. Light and fresh air. Before her stretched his mind, full of thoughts, conflicted emotions, and a growing fear. Her voice came out more assured when she spoke again.

"You're afraid…that you'll never be as strong as Darth Vader."

Rey released a breath she wasn't aware she was holding, watching as he gaped at her, unsure and unnerved. His breath came out in weak pants, much the same as hers did minutes prior. She had taken his weapon and used it against him. There was a rather satisfying feeling to that. Though she felt worn from her efforts, she was pleased.

Before she can say another word, he stalked out of the room, away from her. Left alone, her mind was swarming with questions. The main one repeating itself over and over again.

What was the connection that has them bond together?

Kylo was still seething upon realizing the girl had escaped. He blamed Hux. That self-absorbed man had failed him for the final time. He took his frustration out on the interrogation room, unsheathing his light saber and thrashing it about violently. He was aware of those who came near enough to hear his growls and curses. He was even more aware of their fear. It was a familiar sensation, flitting across his mind. It was a welcomed reprieve from what he had felt in the presence of the scavenger.

He felt foolish for not sensing the Force within her when he had found her planet-side. It hadn't been until she had pushed back against him that he had understood the depth of her abilities. She wasn't Force-sensative, the way his mother was. She was a Force-user. The instant she had displayed her raw skill, he had been caught off-guard. His shock quickly replaced by the idea he could mold her. She had potential. She could be of great use to the First Order.

As he had exited the chamber, he had began crafting a recommendation to take her on as his padawan. With training she could easily replace Hux and serve alongside him. It was an oddly satisfying idea. Not only would it remove Hux from the equation but he'd finally have someone who understood, someone who he could connect with. There were similarities between them. Those had not gone unnoticed by him. He was eager to use them to his advantage when he returned to convince her she had a place here on the base.

With him.

Now, noting her absence, he was more than eager to find her. He was desperate. His chance for a trainee had disappeared with her. He could sense her on the base, though her exact location was hard to pin point. She was on the move. As he stalked through the corridors leaving the tangled mess of metal parts in his wake, he felt another.

Han Solo.

Kylo sneered. He did not have time for a reunion. At present he was more interested in finding the scavenger.

No, he thought, feeling how her emotions flared upon her reunion with the man he had once called father. The traitor was there along with Han Solo's loyal co-pilot, Chewbacca. Her feelings soared through the bond, triggering his own surge of emotion — pure rage. So she was working with them? They were going to help the rebels? Fine. He'd have to put a stop to that. Gathering a collection of Stormtroopers, he headed toward her. He would take back the girl and he'd be damned if he let Han Solo smuggle her out of the base.

He listened to the Force closely. She was moving again. She was no longer within the base. He needed to pick up the pace before he lost her to the carnage outside. He dismissed the Stormtroopers, leaving the task of locating the others to them. They had been trained for this. They could handle the matter. He would handle the scavenger. Storming towards the hangar, he intended to get his ship. It would make it easier to abduct her.

"Ben!"

Kriff.

He did not want to do this now.

As if she had known, the doors above opened, revealing her along with the traitor. He kept his eyes focused on the man in front of him, ready to finish what the Supreme Leader had asked of him. When it was done, no one would stand in his way. The scavenger would be his.

Even as he fed his father false lines, he felt conflict rising from within. The tendrils of light that still shone dimly in his Force signature cried out, reaching towards the man who had once held him, once loved him. The dull light raged against the vibrant darkness surrounding his soul, pressing in two opposite directions, like a deflecting force-field. It churned inside of him, a deadly storm of turmoil he had been wrestling with for years. It was about to become more than he could control.

He dropped his helmet and removed his lightsaber from his belt. From his position, he could feel the girl's growing anxiety as she watched the scene unfold from her vantage point. She was worried for Han Solo and, in some small part, for him. He understood. She had seen inside his mind. She was not skilled enough to understand all of what she had uncovered, but she could sense the familiar clash he was fighting with now. She knew a turning point was coming.

His grandfather sent him a sign, darkening out the rays of light from the opening behind her. He ignited his saber, killing the last of the light within him. As he watched Han taken the blow, he heard her scream. It ripped at the bond, cutting into him, even as he watched his work take the life of the man in front of him. The pain he should have felt from murdering his father in cold blood was overshadowed by the hollowness and overwhelming loss the girl was experiencing.

Kylo took in his breaths slowly, working to focus beyond her increase of sentiment. It was due to her reaction he wasn't able to anticipate Chewbacca's attack. He took the plasma shot to his left side. The force of the hit sent him down on one knee, nearly placing him off balance to fall over the same ledge Han had. The troopers began firing, met with opposition from the girl and the traitor on above. Then the entire room erupted into explosions.

His father had always preferred large disruptions. Kylo should have known he would use bombs. Despite his physical injury and his head swimming with the scavenger's feelings, he raised up to find her. She was working with the traitor to blast their way out. He locked eyes with her, nearly letting out an anguished cry when he saw her lead FN-2187 out the door.

Kylo wouldn't permit her to leave. FN-2187 may have abandoned the First Order, but the scavenger would not. She belonged with him. Blood boiling, he turned on his heel, ignoring the commotion going on around him as the base fell apart. He headed to a utility shaft, following the tunnel out to the forest. Her Force signature was easier to recognize now. Their bond was growing. He could sense her, even as she fled further and further into the snow.

You can run, but you can't hide, he thought with a smirk. Not from me.

He would make sure they were together.

Scavenger.

A voice called out. Rey ignored it, keeping her breathing steady as she began to draw the Force into herself, as Master Luke had taught her. Light. Darkness. The balance. She began to see it all coming into focus.

I can sense you. The voice taunted.

It sounded eerily familiar. Perhaps she had heard it in a dream.

Scavenger.

Rey paid no attention to the nagging voice. Luke had warned her that the Dark side would try to seduce her. She was not going to fall. She would not fail her master. The time she had spent on Ahch-To was time away from Finn, her best friend, who was still recovering from his life-threatening wounds. He had taken those for her. He had been trying to save her. She wanted to become a skilled Jedi to ensure no one ever took such a risk for her again. She needed to be stronger, more equipped. When she was, she would return to the Resistance and fight with them — fight alongside of him. Because Finn had to make it. He had to live.

Somehow, against all odds, thoughts of him had given her the strength to press on. It had given her the drive she needed, the spark to reach for the lightsaber. The moment it had ignited in her hands she had felt the power coursing through her. It had terrified her then just as it had the first time she had come into contact with the weapon. She would have rather fought Kylo Ren with her staff.

Rey.

Her memories halted at the sound of her name. And she knew.

She knew who was calling her.

A ghost.

Rey, he said again. She clutched at the earth in front of her, fearing what it meant that he could reach her.

Stop toying with me, she responded. You're dead.

Is that what your master told you? He sounded amused.

Get out of my head.

Make me.

Childish, arrogant, intolerable, conceited-

Temper, temper. That's not the Jedi way, he chided.

Rey all but growled in frustration. Go haunt someone else, she snapped, slamming down her mental walls.

She trained with Luke day in and day out for the rest of the week. All the while, she made every effort to keep the barrier up. She considered asking her master about Force ghosts, but her nerves got the best of her. She was concerned about what Master Luke would say if he discovered the bond she had with Kylo Ren. She was certain her mentor would label it as a temptation of the Dark side and stop training her. So she remained silent, guarded.

At the end of the week, Luke had her meditating along the coast. He had her clear her mind, center herself, and search through the Force. Slowly aspects of the universe came into focus. Light. Darkness. The balance. She recognized certain places, certain people in her mind's eye. She could sense her master next to her. He was pleased. She felt herself begin to smile. And then her search went into a tail-spin.

Her vision was pulled back. She felt disoriented and slightly dizzy. There was no reason she should understand what happened, but somehow she was aware she was in the past. The memory she was thrust into was not hers. It came to her in shocking flashes, the way her visions had come to her when she first touched the Skywalker lightsaber on Takodana.

There was a boy, maybe about four or so, clutching the hand of his mother as she deposited him on a different world. She was talking over him to Luke. Rey recognized her voice before she recognized her face. General Leia Organa had aged greatly since the time of the memory. The scene tilted and the same boy appeared again. This time he was older. He was sitting in a meadow, meditating. His ears and nose were too big for his face, made all the more prominent by the short hair cut he's been given. It's puberty at it's cruelest, but the next scene is crueler. A collection of other students passed him, whispering harsh criticism about his features, one going as far as to kick him. He never moved, not even a twitch of his fingers on his knees. Next, she saw a building burning, destroyed from the inside out. The Knights of Ren were assembled off to the side, watching the structure fall. At the center of their huddle is a masked Kylo Ren, features now hidden from the world.

A hand on her back pulled her free of the history. She gasped, her lungs burning with the lack of oxygen. It took her a moment to gather her senses and come back into herself. Her surroundings came into focus. She was back on the island. She wasn't alone. There was something coming, something unsaid that she knew to dread before she took it in.

Rey saw it then. The fear. Luke's eyes were full of it. He told her that he couldn't train her, that he was too old and too lost to train any new Jedi. She could barely contain her emotions long enough to move away from him. She felt everything and nothing all at once. The Force thrummed through her and in her haste to put distance between her once master and herself, she released the block she built up to keep the ghost from her past at bay.

As if he had been waiting, his voice reached out to her.

Skywalker is a hack.

Kriff-off.

Your mouth is rather foul for someone training to be a Jedi.

Go to hell, Kylo.

Your temper needs to be controlled.

You would know.

Is that a compliment?

She let out a scream of utter exasperation. Her fight or flight response kicked in. She ran. The island was made up of rolling hills, cliffs, and slopes. Rey paid no attention to the varying heights or surfaces, as her legs carried her across the earth. She pushed her body, urged herself on. Down the stairs she had climbed up on her first day, across the length of the western shore, up the south slopes. She ran and climbed and even swam at one point. She compressed her emotions, squashed them through the vicious workout she conducted. The sun began to set from the sky, coating the island and its surroundings in an inky black sky, dotted with stars.

When she hit the western shore again, she collapsed to her knees, sinking into the sand. The suppressed disappointment surfaced. It crashed into her the way the waves to her side crashed into the shoreline.

My offer still stands.

What?

Her thought barely registers before he responded. You need a teacher. I can help you.

You couldn't even help yourself.

I'm not dead.

Yes you a-.

Search your feelings, Rey.

Against her better judgement, she listened to him. She had not reached out to their bond in months. She struggled at first, to latch onto it, but found it waiting for her. When she dove in, the connection opened easily for her. Rey saw him clearly, as if he was directly in front of her. He was sitting on a First Order base, she assumed due to the decor. It looked eerily similar to the Starkiller base. The helmet was displaced, hanging off his hand, as he stared at it. He sensed her watching and set it down next to his bed.

The room was rather bare, void of any personal belongings or individual touches to mark it his. If his helmet wasn't sitting there, he could be in any barrack. She was not sure what she thought she'd see. He wasn't the type to have holos of his friends and family or any heirlooms. As she thought it, she realized how silly the assumption is. This was a man who murdered his father in front of her and would do the same to her, if given the chance again.

I do not wish to kill you.

Don't lie to me.

I never have. And I have never wanted to kill you. You have too much potential. It would be a waste.

Force pushing me into a tree is alright though?

You survived.

Thanks to Finn.

Rey felt his anger ignite through the bond at the mention of her friend. There was a tense silence as the heat simmered. She held her ground, waiting. The memory of that night, lying in the snow after her back hit the tree was so different than this moment. There was no chill in the air, no smell of hot metal or taste of blood. Her cheeks aren't stained with tears for Han Solo. Her friend isn't by her side. Immediately, she felt guilt over leaving him at the base, leaving him to heal on his own without her to watch over him as he had done for her.

FN-2187 does not deserve your care.

Jealous?

He doesn't respond to that, but there is another intense flare up stemming from his unchecked emotions. She had hit a nerve. Unconcerned with his wrath, she pushed further.

I suppose monsters don't understand caring.

Perhaps not, but at least I didn't abandon you, he growled, playing on her insecurity. Can FN-2187 say the same?

She paused, swallowing an uneasy lump that has rose into her throat at his words. Finn did run off leaving her alone on Takodana. Even after she asked him to stay, he had left…just like everyone else in her life. His departure had stung more than the others, possibly because he had been the closest thing to a friend she had ever had. But he had come back, he had come for her to save her. She had to remind herself not to get too caught up in her past emotions. It was just that. Past. It had no purpose now. Finn had chosen her. He had chosen to risk his life to find her.

He came after me, she insisted. After you stole me away! Rey felt her annoyance surge, pushing the words harder than intended across the galaxy to wherever he was. She watched him lose balance for a split second, before righting himself.

Your powers are growing.

It wasn't a snide remark. It wasn't even a question. If anything, it almost sounded as if he was impressed. She didn't know how to handle that. She was still fuming over how his actions took away her chance to work with Han, removed her ability to go home without being dragged further into the rebellion, the Jedi…all of this.

If you come after me again, I'll give you more than a scar, she snapped, still aggravated.

Doubtful, he mused. The next time we meet, Scavenger, it will be you who comes after me.

And she did.

It was weeks later. Luke remained resolute in his refusal to train her, leaving her to her own devices. She tried in vain to change his mind, even attempted to use her powers of compulsion over him, but he was well trained, more so than she was, and she failed. As the end of the month approached, he still refused, telling her to return with Chewie to the Resistance, back where she belonged.

When she gave in, she expected Kylo Ren to be condescending. Waiting for an 'I-told-you-so'-esq quip to come, she was floored when he told her he was on his way. So he has known? He had known the entire time that she was on Anch-To. He had never once attacked, never let the First Order come to collect Luke or blow the island from the sky. She was not sure what to make of that, so she didn't linger on the thought. Instead she waited by the shore, meditating.

Hours passed by. She hardly noticed until the sound of a TIE fighter landing broke her out of her trance. Her eyes focused on the black on black ship, as it landed further down the beach. She was sure Luke had sensed his nephew. She wondered if Chewbacca would be coming after them. He still had his own grudge to air with the Knight of Ren. Gathering up her staff and bag, she moved towards the newly arrived member on the island. The ramp came down, as Kylo Ren, dressed in his typical black garbs, stomped down.

She wasn't surprised he came alone, though she did wonder how he was able to get away without an escort. Paired with the fact he had never attacked the island, she began to doubt his loyalty to the First Order. During their previous encounter, he had wanted the map to Skywalker. Was there a reason he no longer required his uncle?

"Rey!"

A familiar voice caused her steps to falter. She had turned around to see Luke staring down at her. His eyes held more emotion in them at that moment then the entire time she had been on the island. She shook her head, done with waiting for him. She had made her choice.

"Rey!" He cried out again. She noticed Kylo stalking forward from his ship. He must have been concerned she would back out on their agreement. He doesn't know that she has never been one to go back on her word.

"This is not going to go the way you think!" Her ex-master shouted, as if his words would break her out of some spell.

Then Kylo was by her side, reaching out his hand. She felt a pull from behind her. It was Luke's last attempt to keep her. It was no match for the swelling of her Force bond with the man before her. The familiar sensation of being in physical proximity to him had the connection humming wildly about them. She gave him her hand.

If he was smiling, she couldn't see it. His mask was covering his face, keeping his expressions hidden. A sense of smugness did come through the bond. As she passed him, he dropped her hand, placing his on her lower back as he guided her down to the waiting ship. She bite the inside of her mouth to keep from flinching under the touch. Rey was sure it was meant for Luke's benefit far more than it is for hers.

As they board, he moved away to close the airlock, before he strolled past her to the cockpit. He didn't say anything when she took the seat next to him.

Her ears were ringing and her heart was beating erratically. She was beginning to doubt her choice. She couldn't trust Kylo Ren. Force bonded or not, he wasn't someone she could rely on. Where else was she to go? Back to the Resistance? Back to Jakku? Back to Luke?

This wasn't her fight. It wasn't what she had asked for. She had only wanted to find her family. Maz's words echoed in her head. Whomever you are waiting for on Jakku, they're never coming back. Even now, months later, the memory stung at the corners of her eyes. She absently brushed the back of her hand against her face, scrubbing away the foolish tears.

She barely registered the take off. It wasn't until they made the jump to light speed and she was propelled back into her seat that she realized what was done was done. There was no turning back now.

A clicking noise had her glancing over to see Kylo removed his helmet.

"I knew you would make the correct choice," he stated, evenly.

Rey worried on her bottom lip. If he had read her mind to decipher the root of her uncertainty, she didn't feel it. More than likely her face had given her away.

"You changed your hair."

His observation was not something she expected to hear. In fact, she was shocked he had noticed. His attempt at small talk was almost enough to make her laugh. She found herself, exhaling, releasing a bit of the nervous pressure building up in her chest.

"Same outfit?" She gestured to his monotone assortment of clothing.

"No, new cowl."

It was ridiculous. The pathetic attempt at conversation, but she couldn't help it. She laughed. The sound broke up the tension in her body and in the air surrounding them. He provided her a fleeting grin, hardly noticeable but she caught it before it disappeared under his normal scowl.

"How long?" She asked, the laughter dying away at the seriousness of what she had chosen once again weighing on her.

"Six standard hours," he commented, off-handedly. Then, as if rethinking something he added, "You should rest. There is a chamber in the back."

Rey wasn't tired, but he was right. Rising up from her seat, she started for the rear of the ship, then paused. She didn't know what to expect when she arrived. She was sure she will not be offered any small kindnesses. Running from the First Order and assisting in the destruction of the Starkiller base was sure to have earned her enemies. If they were anything like Kylo Ren, she could be dead before breakfast, or more likely, tortured until she was wishing she was dead.

"You will be with me at all times," he said, suddenly. She turned her head to meet his eyes over her shoulder. "No one will raise a hand to you. If they try, they will answer to me."

He returned his gaze forward. His reassurances were meant to pacify her, but the possessiveness in his voice was what she latched onto. It wasn't the type of feeling she expected him to exhibit. His temper tantrums were rather childlike. Despite that, she had never seen him be attached to any particular thing, place, or person. She understood his goal in all of this. He wanted her to train. He wanted to mold her to be like him. Her potential, as he called it, had attracted him to her since their first meeting. He saw her as some sort of pet.

"No, as an ally," he insisted, not looking up from the controls.

"Ally?"

"You are my equal," he sighed. His voice was so quiet, as if the words are difficult to speak out loud.

Rey took it as her cue to leave, walking back until she found the single bed chamber he spoke of. With no change of clothes, she simply slipped off her boots and socks, before lying down on the stiff bed. As she closed her eyes, she contemplated the final word. Equal. No one had ever called her that.

The fact that he had been the one to say it shouldn't warm her as much as it had. She attempted to push the conversation from her mind. The chamber must have be above the engine. Most would have considered the racket annoying. Rey found it familiar and calming. The machine's constant noise started to lull her to sleep. As she drifted off, she heard one word: Equal.

In her dreams, she saw them come together, separate from how they were with the bond. Equal. Together.

A/N: This was written before I saw TLJ. I wrote it as part of a Tumblr prompt. I'm editing Part II. It should be up shortly.