A/N: ABCs of Writing prompt, third installment! Based off of a Reylo comic I read a little while ago. Not sure if this is going to be a one, two or three shot lol We will find out! R&R!

CAVE

Chapter 1: Cave

Rain. Why did it have to rain? She sighed in annoyance as she looked out from the village she stayed in with Skywalker at one point. But he was long gone now. He'd given his life so everyone could escape in time. She was alone. She'd crashed a ship and watched it burn. She'd wanted to throw her saber into the fire, too, but Luke had saved it and lectured her. That all seemed so long ago now. Now, as she stood in the village, the rain falling mercilessly around her, she stared out over the water. She knew she had a connection with Ben Solo. She felt him tugging at their bond from time to time, as if testing to see if she were all right. She'd pushed him out, and she could sense his aggravation and... hurt? She felt him tugging again. She closed her eyes and frowned as she tried to get a feel for why he was so concerned for her. Why was he reaching out to her so much? She followed the line as far as the barrier would let her without letting him in and she saw the jagged pieces that marred their connection, cuing her in that there was concern and unrest on his side.

She opened her eyes as she stared out over the water. She knew Ben was aware of this island. The small island on Ahch-To. She was so determined to be here alone. To die here. To cut off all communications with everyone, as much as it pained her. She was used to being alone anyway. It wouldn't do the others any good to be with her anyway. She was Palpatine's granddaughter. The scourge of the galaxy. The insidious ruler of the dark side. The Sith Lord, bent on destroying everything everyone knew. She was his offspring. The thought made her ill. To know that her grandfather was the Darth Sidious. It made her violently ill. She didn't want to speak to Ben. Nor Rose. Nor Finn. Or Leia. No one. She wanted them all to leave her alone. The less they dealt with her, the longer they would live. She knew now what needed to happen, but she didn't want to do it. She wanted the Resistance to deal with Palpatine. She wanted Leia to figure it out. She didn't want to deal with it. She'd wondered for so long who her family was. And now she had her answer.

She was better off being a nobody from Jakku.

Thunder clapped in the distance, and it seemed to be raining fire. She frowned as she watched the fireball head her way. Really fast. Her eyes widened as the force bond lit up in her mind, her name echoing through the bond in a frenzied yell. "Ben..." she whispered both out loud and in the bond they shared. She watched as the TIE he commanded flew over to her and landed on the jagged mountainside. She looked off in the direction he landed and knew he wasn't far. She pressed her lips together in a thin line. Why was he here? What did he want? Why did she feel... relieved... that he was here? She frowned as she grabbed her saber from her hip and lit it, rushing to his ship. Her mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts. Was he here to kill her? Capture her? Hurt her? Taunt her? She growled as she made it to his ship and glared up at it. "Ben!" she hissed as she stood with her saber alive and ready to tear into him.

He descended his ramp and walked out into the rain, his own saber at his side, but not ignited. Rain quickly soaked into his hair, clothes, face... His brows were drawn together in an unreadable expression. Was that anger? Concern? She tried to get a feel for the bond, but it was locked away from her. He approached her as she took a defensive stance. He stayed where he was, saber still off as he glared at her from a distance. He had to have been a few paces away from her. If she wanted to, she could thrust her saber forward and stab right through him without any trouble. But she hesitated. She saw something in his eyes that made her stop. Felt something trickle through the bond that made her question why she was so defensive. Her stance slacked a bit as she slowly lowered her saber and put it away. "Why are you here?" she yelled over the pouring rain.

Ben remained silent. She wondered if he had heard her even. He just stared. As if his mind were uneasy. And then, without warning, he collapsed, eyes drifting shut as his face hit the ground beneath him. Her eyes widened as she ran to him without a second thought. "Ben!" she called as she made it to his side. She looked around as the rain got heavier and heavier as the moments went on. She saw his ship start to slide off the rocky terrain and into the depths below. Her eyes widened as she reached out with the force to try to stop it. She paused it for a moment, draining her mentally. It was too heavy. She feared that if she continued, she would make it explode. She felt the ship slipping from her pull and she let go with a cry, the ship falling down into the watery depths below the jagged mountain it landed on. She half wondered why he had the mind to land it there and not in a flat spot. Then her thoughts returned to the man laying there unconscious. She looked around frantically. There was a cave nearby. There was no way she could carry him back to the hut she was staying in. He was far too heavy for that. She was strong, but she knew her limitations. Without his help, it would be a task to drag him to the cave.

She sighed as she stood and dragged him by his large hands, pulling with the Force as well. Anything she could do to ease the burden of his dead weight. She slipped several times, falling to the ground and skinning her knee, bruising her face on the rocks. Her will power was strong enough to make her keep getting up. She wondered why she was so eager to help him. She frowned as she made it to the cave. He was so dirty and wet. As was she. She sighed quietly. Once she had pulled him all the way in, she shed her wet cowl and set to work at helping him shed his. Of course, it would have been easy...

If he hadn't been stirring in the process. His eyes fluttered open as he looked up at her sliding his shirt off of him. His face lit up with a violent red as he sat up quickly and looked around at his surroundings. He then looked at her. Her face was dirty and wet and had a bright red hue to her cheeks, despite being frozen to the bone. His own body was starting to shiver as he realized they were wet and in a cave. And he was partially undressed. He scanned the ground, as if trying to piece together what had happened. What was going on? "Ben?" His eyes flickered up to her face then. She didn't know what to say after that. She just stared at him, unsure of what to say or how to explain herself. "I..."

"Where am I?" His voice was gentle, wary, cautious.

She frowned at him. "You flew here... yet you don't know where you are?" Ben just stared at her, eyes unsure of what happened. She then noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the utter fatigue radiating from his face. "Ben... what's wrong? You don't seem-"

"Fine. I'm... fine." He went to stand, but caught himself on the wall, sighing in frustration as Rey caught him from falling over onto his face again. Her hand was on his bare chest, shoulder under his arm and other arm wound around his mid back. He looked down at her and averted his glance weakly. "I said I'm fine," he hissed back at her.

"Sure, if falling on your face is fine, then I believe you, 100%." She glared up at him when he glared at her. After a moment, she averted her glance and realized how close she was to him. "We need to start a fire..." she mumbled.

"I need to get back to my ship," he said as he tried to walk again, but his legs weren't working and he almost collapsed again.

Rey caught him and sighed in frustration. "You need to sit down!"

"Why?" he growled back.

Rey paused. "Why are you here, Ben?" Her voice was full of conviction. Full of determination to find out why he was here with her now.

His turn to pause. He didn't know how to answer that. He did, but he didn't want to tell her. "I... I don't know."

"You're a terrible liar, Ben Solo."

Ben frowned at her. He knew he was. "You weren't responding so..." It was so soft, so shy... so cute. He averted his sight, finding more interest in the rocks.

She stayed where she was, eyes searching his face as it took on a slightly redder hue, despite the cold setting in on their skin. From his words, it confirmed her thoughts. He wanted to see her. Was he checking in on her? Was he really that worried about her? The dark circles under his eyes showed her that he wasn't sleeping. How long had it been since he'd slept? She tightened her grip around his waist and gently led him back to a sitting position. He didn't look at her. And that was all right. She lit her saber and used it as a flash light as she ventured deeper into the cave, tossing behind her, "I'm looking for something we can set on fire."

Ben remained silent as he watched her retreat. He felt his jaw quiver at the cold that he was feeling. He wrapped his arms around himself and curled his body to try to get some warmth, but all he could do was think of how much of an idiot he was. She knew his intentions now. It was so easy to be honest around her. Too easy. He hated how he could hide nothing from her. He'd made sure the TIE she took was outfitted with a tracking signal and when that blipped off the map not too long ago, he followed the last known location of it. Which led him here. to Ahch-To. He sighed as he leaned his head back against the rocky wall. He was such an idiot. Why had he been so eager to see her? He closed his eyes let sleep overcome him, finally able to let himself rest peacefully.

Rey had returned not too long afterwards, arms full of wood and tinder that the last dweller had left. It was dry, thankfully. She set to work at making a fire, grabbing two stones and sparking them together to light the fire in the cave. Once it was ignited, she let a victorious smile grace her features. She then turned to Ben and saw that he was sleeping still. He looked so tired... The First Order was not kind to him. He wasn't sleeping. He was stressed out. She could feel his anxiety through their link. And even with him here, his very being was exuding anxiety. She frowned as she watched him sleep, lips slightly parted, hair clinging to his face as it started to dry from the warmth of the fire. She looked outside and saw the rain was still coming down in a torrential downpour, making her sigh. She could easily go to her hut... but with him being as tired as he was, would he be able to come, too? She couldn't drag him all that way.

She sat next to him and curled into herself quietly, watching as the fire ate away the tinder and logs she'd found. She felt herself nodding off, too, her cheek on her knees as she let out one last sigh before drifting off into a deep sleep.

X~x~x~x~x~X

Ben awoke a few hours later to a warmth against his side. He turned his head slightly and saw Rey's head on his chest with his arm around her, holding her gently against him. He had to blink himself awake several times, wondering if this was reality or if this was just some kind of weird dream like in the past. He looked at the cave entrance. Still pouring down. He looked at the fire. Still warm. He let his sight drift back to Rey. Definitely real. Why was she so close to him? Wasn't she wary of him? Didn't she not trust him? How did they get into this position? He remembered falling asleep and then... this. He didn't remember much else...

Apparently, he didn't have to wait long for answers because Rey let out a soft sigh as her eyes fluttered open as well. She hesitantly glanced up and saw Ben a few inches from her face. She threw herself into a sitting position, a deep blush on her face. "Right... you feel better?" she asked nervously, avoiding his glance.

Ben didn't know how to answer that. He felt the embarrassment through their bond and couldn't help but grin at her. "Were you comfortable?"

Rey's face turned a deeper shade of red as she indignantly glared at him. "I should ask you! You were the one that was holding me there!"

Ben couldn't help but snicker at her. He averted his glance to look at the fire, a sobering look taking over his masculine features. He looked like he was being torn apart again. "I'm not your enemy, Rey."

Did she just hear him correctly? "Right... you just want to take over the galaxy and rule with your precious First Order, Supreme Leader," she snarled at him. She saw his face darken then, fist clenching at his side. She felt the anger rolling off of him and through their bond.

"How else will we get any peace? Everyone is so willing to banish and exterminate that which they don't understand. They see the slightest hint of darkness and they're ready to just toss it away like a broken plaything. Is that your definition of peace and order?!" he hissed back at her, eyes hard as they glared at her. She could sense the hurt coming through their bond before he schooled his side to shut her out.

She didn't know what to say to him. "Ben..." she started softly, warmly. Her hand went out to touch his, making him stiffen as he shot his eyes over at her. "There's no excuse for what happened to you. What Master Skywalker did to you was unforgivable. If he'd just given you a chance... maybe you wouldn't be leader of the First Order now..." Her voice held sadness in it, something akin to regret and pity. "But there has to be another way of there being peace. I'm not saying completely destroy the dark side... but don't let it rule you, Ben. Don't extinguish the light."

Ben frowned at her. "You don't understand," he said softly, voice full of hurt and upset.

"Then help me understand, Ben."

He sighed and closed his eyes, reaching out to her with the bond. She hesitated and he opened his eyes, looking over at her at the corner of his eye, flipping his hand to lace his fingers with hers. "I want you to see..." he said quietly.

Rey hesitantly let herself delve into his mind, closing her eyes as she let the bond lure her through the recesses of his mind. She saw the pain he felt from his childhood. Leia and Han arguing about sending him to train with Luke. How Leia was all for it, but Han was highly against it. Leia had won in the end, as she always did. Pushing on, she saw the betrayal and hurt in young Ben's eyes, as if she were looking on from a front row seat, watching it play out as in a theater. Luke raising his saber to kill him, Ben catching him in the act, Luke realizing he'd made a mistake, but the hurt and pain and betrayal too much for young Ben to fathom as he pulled the roof down on them both. The instance with the temple being set on fire, not of his own doing. Snoke... She gasped as she realized just how misunderstood he was. Everyone had assumed that since Luke sensed the darkness welling in him that he had set fire to the temple, when it wasn't him at all. That he'd killed people in his anguish, but he hadn't. How all of this was just attributed to him, all this murder, bloodshed, pain, suffering... loneliness. All of it was given to him, laid at his feet for him to deal with. Alone.

And then there was Snoke, waiting for him to train him. Waiting to snatch him up in all his anguish and misery. Wounds so fresh from the betrayal and resentment people felt for him that Snoke knew Ben was ready to leave behind all the light side had to offer. How his mind was twisted in such a way that it all made sense. Rey was so overwhelmed by Ben's hatred and sadness and loneliness that tears started to fall down her cheeks as her hand tightened around his. She ventured on at his coaxing, mind still reeling from the pain and sorrow he'd been forced to experience at such a young age. She now saw her own face, glaring at him with a misunderstood and misguided hatred as she called him a monster. The pain he felt as he said he was. She felt her heart break when she felt his emotions. How it echoed through his head. He embraced it begrudgingly, accepting it as his only reality. That this was the only way anyone would ever look at him. How she looked at him. How she would only ever look at him. Monster. You're a monster! Yes, I am. I am a monster. That's all you'll ever see. All anyone ever wants to see. The words echoed through his head and into hers, ringing like a mantra that threatened to tear her apart.

The bond pulled her deeper into his mind and the echoing stopped. He'd killed Snoke. He'd chosen her over Snoke. He'd held out his hand to her. But she didn't take it. He knew she wouldn't. He tried anyway. It only fueled his loneliness and rejection. Fueled the darkness inside of him. How the only one he ever really cared about... rejected him. He'd given up Snoke for her. But it wasn't enough. There was a sob that left Rey's throat as the vision wobbled in her mind. She felt him pulling away, but she held tight to him through their bond, holding him there. She felt something else, beyond the darkness, beyond the pain. The bond tried to keep her out, but she pushed forward. She only caught a glimpse of it. It was there, in the darkness, shining out as the last bit of light that he had in his dark, dejected mind: hope.

And then she was out of his mind. She gasped as her eyes flew open, seeing him staring at her, face unreadable as he searched her eyes for any hint as to what she was thinking or feeling. He'd felt her emotions as she sifted through his, but now they couldn't read each other at the moment. Rey just stared at him, not willing to move, not willing to relinquish his hand in hers. He wasn't ready to let go either. "Do you get it now?" he asked, his deep voice reverberating in her chest and dragging a sob from her. Without thinking, she launched herself at him, throwing her arms around his neck as she buried her face in his neck, clinging to him desperately, as if he'd drift away if she let him go. He hesitantly wrapped his muscled arms around her and held her close, curling around her as tears of his own slid out of his eyes and onto her top.

"You're not a monster," she cried into his neck, fingers lacing in his hair to hold him closer to her. His arm tightened around her back as his own face was buried in her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Ben," she breathed as she let out another sob. Ben simply shook his head, holding tight to her as if she were his lifeline.

And she was. She was the hope that he was holding onto. She was the light that was shining out in the darkness of his mind. He didn't want to pull away. He didn't want her to see him in such a weakened state. To see him so vulnerable. This was a joke. The Supreme Leader, clinging to a scavenger nobody from Jakku, as if his very life depended on her comfort, her presence, her love. He refused to accept this reality, but he found he could do nothing to mitigate the pain that was overwhelming him. He felt her place a gentle kiss to his neck and his whole body locked up. "Ben..." she breathed against his neck, gently running her fingers through his damp hair. Her other hand gently cupped his cheek as she pulled back from him. His arms stayed around her, but hung loosely, allowing her to pull away from him. His hair was shielding his face, hoping to whoever was listening that he could school his features before she moved his hair.

No such luck. She reached forward and gently moved the hair from his face, seeing the tear trails and the glassy dark eyes staring back at her like a lost little boy, crying for help. Her eyes held his, relaying the emotions she felt for him. Pity. Sorrow. Comfort. Hope... love. "There's still light in you, Ben," she whispered as her thumb caressed his cheek. He just stared at her, unsure when his breathing stopped, but wishing it would start again as his lungs were burning from lack of air. He was so tired of hoping. So tired of wishing for things to get better. And then... as if he didn't want to fuel the light anymore, wanting only to deal in absolutes... he leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. Her eyes widened at the contact, but she made no effort to pull away. Her ears were clouded with her racing blood pressure as there was a hum around them from the Force. His arm tightened around her back and her eyes drifted shut, deciding not to fight what she wanted to happen. She leaned into the kiss, sighing in content. Their bond flowed open, releasing emotions and mingling together into one cohesive emotion: love. The one thing both of them were seeking, but were never able to obtain from others. The one thing that they were scared to give to another person. And yet, it all made sense to give it to each other and take it from the other.

When Rey pulled away to get some air, she rested her forehead against Ben's, a small smile on her lips as she idly played with his side hairs. He looked up at her, eyes betraying the feelings his face fought so hard to hide. It all made sense now. His life finally had a purpose. He wanted so badly to be with Rey, to forget the First Order and the Resistance. To forget dark and light and just... exist. But the reality of the situation hit him like a ton of bricks. They were still enemies, fighting for different sides and ideals. She wouldn't join the dark, nor would he join the light. If she went to the First Order with him, she would be tortured then killed. If he went to the Resistance with her, he would spend the rest of his days in jail, only to be sentenced to death anyway for all the murders he'd committed. They were doomed for failure. They wouldn't be able to be together. His heart ached at that. They couldn't just be. They couldn't just abandon it all and run away. They'd chosen their sides. They'd chosen their allies. They'd chosen... opposite each other. The reality must have hit Rey, too, because she was the one to speak first. "We can't," she whispered sadly, eyes on the brink of shedding more tears.

Ben stayed where he was, knowing it was the truth. "I know," he whispered back, feeling the last bit of light in his mind slowly die out. He didn't want to let it die. He didn't want to give himself completely to the dark side. He was Kylo Ren of the Knights of Ren, Supreme Leader of the First Order. All that he was screamed darkness. But he didn't want it to be that way. He made his choices in life and now he was doomed to carry them out. It was too late to turn back. Just as it was too late for Rey to turn back. They were doomed to loneliness. This dyad was a joke. This bond that they shared was just another instrument of torture. Meant to forever torture them, torture him, into thinking that they could ever be anything more than... than this. Whatever this was.

Rey leaned forward again and pressed her lips to his again with as much love and tender affection as she could muster. He returned it with fervor, hand gently cradling the back of her head as she cupped his cheek and pressed herself closer to him. Their words echoed through the bond they shared, not once breaking the kiss they so desperately wanted to cling to. "We can't do this, Ben."

"I know."

"Then why are we?"

"Do you want to stop?"

Silence. The kiss intensified as Rey clung tighter to Ben as if her life depended on it. She was now in his lap, curling as close as she possibly could to him as he wrapped his arm around her back, taking in her warmth against his cold skin. "No. I want to stay like this."

Ben didn't know what to say then. His mind was racing almost as quickly as his heart. He wanted to tell her. He wanted to tell her the three simple words that he'd never said to anyone else, not even his mother or father. He wanted so desperately to tell them to her, pledging his life to her. But he couldn't. He knew that the day he uttered those words... would be the day Kylo Ren died. The day the First Order died. The day the Knights of Ren died. The day everything he knew ceased to exist. That day...

Was not now.