Rey couldn't help but shake her head at Finn. He was siting across from her just as bored as she was agitated. He was tugging off his jacket and stuffing it behind his back to prop himself up against the tree he'd chosen to lean against as they waited for nightfall. Rey was comfortable in the sticky heat that surrounded them, her friend... was not.

"Don't bother getting too comfortable." She warned him, her voice slightly on the edge of scolding. Finn had been staling all afternoon. "We need to be moving soon. We have limited time, remember." She pointed out for at least the third time today.

"How could I possibly forget with you reminding me every chance you get?" He asked with the roll of his eyes and his own tones of frustration.

The heat and her insistent reminding was getting to him. Finn tilted his head back, squishing the leather jacket between his shoulders, neck and head before he closed his eyes.

Rey scoffed loud enough for Finn to hear her. Was he really planning on napping now?

Finn peeked through one half opened eye. "I can't make the sun go down any quicker Rey, it's not really in my control." He readjusted his position, punching the jacket behind his head again before settling back down.

He'd been barely tolerable since she'd accidentally confessed that she may feel overly protective of the man who almost killed him. She wasn't much better in the moment, she was feeling irritable herself. Kylo Ren had been in her head more in the last few days then ever and now all she had was the soft hum at the back of her skull. Even with her friends normally good company, though not the best at the moment since he shot disapproving looks in her direction every chance he got, she couldn't help but feel... lonely, disconnected even. She'd been isolated for months on that island. Her Jedi companion had kept their interactions to a bare minimum and Rey was ok with that. She was used to being alone and she and Luke hadn't had much in common to chat over anyway, not to mention how distant he kept himself.

But then Kylo Ren showed up and everything changed. She'd hardly had any time to herself since his arrival. Now, she had to much time on her hands. She was left to drift in the churning and turbulent sea of her thoughts with way more new information then she knew what to do with. When she had time to think she became overwhelmed, it was scary alone here in her head. There were to many things for her to over think, under think, to focus on and to analyze. She had no map, no guide, no direction. She just floated aimlessly hoping to keep herself afloat long enough to reach some semblance of safety before she drowned.

Rey was just getting used to his voice invading her space. Chiming in whenever she needed an explanation or opinion about something she knew nothing about. The deep vibrations running through her head were always directing her in some way or another, like a light house in the distance, flashing light over the rippling tide of her mind just when she needed it the most.

Now that light was gone. Hidden away or lost within her ever growing thoughts that moved like dangerously thick fog drifting languidly within her head. No mater how she tried to clear the stale weight of them, they just swirled from one damp thought to the next. The ocean of her mind was in turmoil and she had no clue as to what should be done next so she lingered in the darkness, a lost ship, blindly approaching the rocks ahead.

She realized then that her bond mate was being awfully thorough in securing their connection from his side and she couldn't help but wonder why. Had she offended him last night? She had been pretty harsh in her assessment of where they stood, him being her enemy and therefor an unwelcomed presence in her head to her friends and faction. That meant that she was also supposed to want to keep him out. He was supposed to also be her enemy. She should want to keep him out. Should being the key word there. The truth was; Rey was getting comfortable with the weight of his presence in her mind. He felt right there, comfortable, like he'd always belonged.

Rey hung her head low. Her fiends had given so much of themselves for their cause. Their time, energy, almost their lives... one of their lives... she felt like every time she gave Ren access to her mind she was throwing in with the enemy. She must be such a disappointment to those around her. They'd all been so supportive since finding out she had the ability to interact with the Force. She must have let them all down by now.

She'd decided that she would give Finn his space, she couldn't really blame him for reacting aggressively and she wouldn't lie to him by apologizing for how she feels about her bond, Ren was right after all, it' not something she chose. Perhaps in time she could learn to control what gets in and out through their bond but for now it just is what it is. All she could do was focus on what she could control and currently that wasn't much.

She eyed Finn through the shield of her lashes, her head still bowed in self scrutiny and dissatisfaction. They were supposed to be friends, yet they were clearly both hurting and neither wanted to be the first to lay their sword down before the other. Rey sighed. This may be the last chance she gets to see him for awhile, maybe at all.

Maker knows how tonight will go.

Ren had given her two days from when he'd first told her she had the allotted time. The biggest problem there was she had no idea of exactly when that was. She'd spent a lot of time sleeping since she'd woken in the cock pit of Luke's X-Wing. She had been thinking about it a lot and she was pretty sure she had until morning, but it was really more of a guess then a certainty.

Looking down on her good natured friend Rey finally deflated, suddenly asking in her heart ache and some how already missing him. "Are you really that mad at me?"

Finn huffed. His eyes opened and he sat up, leaving the jacket he'd finally gotten to a comfy position to fall to the ground behind his back. "I'm not mad." He said angrily.

It was Rey's turn to roll her eyes. "Oh come on Finn, we're not five." She crouched down to meet his brown eyes with her hazel ones. She forced a smile across her face, poking him in the arm mischievously in a blatant attempt to smooth things over. 

Finn's eyes were hard like dark pools of solid ice. He was so distant. "I... I don't get you." He finally admitted.

Rey looked over her shoulder to make sure they were still alone in the forests edge. They were a good distance from the encampment but the First Order scouts patrolled often and Rey really didn't want to get caught off guard. For the moment the coast seemed clear so she turned back to her friend. Her soft eyes reflecting back in the frozen surface of his and she pressed him for an explanation.

"What don't you get?" She genuinely asked.

Finn huffed, eyeing the young woman in front of him curiously. He was so angry with her, he really was, how could she care even the slightest for the monster that every one else in the universe was stuck running from? But he was also angry with himself. He hated lying to her, hated putting on a front that he knew would make her feel terrible while he did it and even more, he hated knowing what this would all do to her after wards.

He swallowed and his eyes fell to the ground between them. He was startled when she suddenly grabbed his hand with hers. She hated being touched, especially hand holding, she never liked that. He cast his eyes back up to hers. She had such pretty eyes, always so warm and caring. It killed him knowing he how bad this was going to hurt her in the end. She was going to blame herself. He just knew it.

"We're not getting Poe and Chewie back!" He suddenly blurted out covering his hand with his mouth a fraction of a second too late to stop himself.

Rey leaned back on her heals. Her grip on his hand loosened and she almost fell back but he grabbed her shoulder before she toppled.

"What?" It was barely a whisper.

Finn's mouth opened and closed like a fish under water.

"Finn, what do you mean... of course we are. Luke and I won't rest until-"

He pulled his hand away from her and forcefully climbed to his feet. His back was to her but he could feel her eyes like lasers trained on the back of his skull.

"Finn, we'll get them back, I promise." She comforted.

His eyes closed and he squeezed his fist closed. "No Rey, we won't. They may already be..." He stopped, unable to continue the sentence out loud.

"They're fine. Ren said we have two days and I know you hate hearing this but so far he hasn't lied once."

Finn heard her rising behind him and his muscles tensed. He was suddenly nauseous but he had to tell her. She'd think it was her fault if he didn't and then she brought him up; that Dark side monster...

He spun around to face her and she took a step back in surprise. "There's not going to be a Kylo Ren to hold anything over you're head for much longer." He spit the words like venom and Rey physically recoiled.

She saw it then, a deep swirl of something she was becoming all to familiar with lately. Darkness; and it was alive and well in Finn. But that couldn't be right. He was good, he was light. He was her happy bubbly friend.

"Finn that anger, you have to... wait, what do you mean?" She stepped closer to him, her hand suddenly falling on his shoulder.

He tugged his arm away but her fingers dug in, not allowing him to break free from her hold.

"You'll be free Rey. With out him to track you down... " His eyes shifted. "You can start over. With or with out me, it doesn't matter, you'll still have your freedom... and I'll have mine" His voice darkened and she couldn't believe what he was saying.

Her head lowered, her eyes running over the ground as she lost her self to her thoughts. His hand fell over hers and he gripped it over his shoulder. "Don't be sad Rey, it's not your fault. Poe and Chewie are doing this for the Resistance. It's what needed to be done."

She jerked away from him. Stepping back and shaking her head as she stared him down angrily. "What are they going to do? What ever it is we have to stop them." She started.

Finn shook his head. "It's already too late. It may have already happened."

"What are you talking about?" She screamed at him, panic over riding her better sense of reason.

"Come on, it's getting dark; Luke should be at the temple by now. It's time to get that ship and go." He started past her and she clipped his shoulder hard with hers, sending him back a step and a half.

"Finn tell me what they are planning or-"

His eyes narrowed on her then. "Or you'll what?" He yelled angrily.

They were both breathing heavily, suddenly both feeling threatened by the other. Rey had only a second to contemplate what she was doing before her hands reached for him. She took his head between her palms and squeezed her eyes shut. His erratic and disheveled memories collided with her skull all at once. She cringed in discomfort as they blinded the front of her eyes. He screamed and dropped to one knee. Her own legs were locked in place, even as they threatened to buckle she stood like stone, unmoving as her mind moved painfully through his.

She was like a whirlwind moving through his head, leaving things upturned and out of place as she clumsily attempted a technique she wasn't even close to being ready to attempt yet. One she didn't even know she could use, but she was attempting anyway. There were many things that flashed through her mind, but she focused in on what she was there for until she found it. The memory that tied everything together.

Poe, Chewie and Finn where whispering. Poe constantly peeking back to make sure Luke was still preoccupied with what ever he was doing while they spoke. They all wore somber expressions that hardened into pure determination as the whispering went on. Then Poe held out his hand revealing a small device. She'd come across many devices like this while scavenging through the old war ships back on Jakku. The device wasn't large enough to take out a ship massive enough to dock the Falcon but...

"...He's going to detonate it when Ren's in range..." She announced to herself as her brain processed what she was mentally watching the three comrades agree on. "You've all gone mad... that's insane... that's not what Liea would want..." Her hands set Finn's head free and he collapsed forward. She trembled and her head hurt but she had no time to focus on anything but what she'd seen.

Ren... oh Maker, Ren... The last time she'd seen him he'd been face to face with Poe... was it too late now? Is that why she could barely feel him? But he couldn't be dead, she can still feel him. He's there, somewhere on the other side of the hum she knew he was there. What if he hadn't tried to detonate the explosive yet? Force, she had to stop this. She had to warn him!

"Ren?" No answer. "Come on Dark one, I know your there I can feel you." She all but tapped her foot waiting for some kind of snarky response that never came. "Kylo Ren answer me!" She demanded. "You're there... you have to be..." Her words became soft. Nearly a plea as negative thoughts took over her head.

She didn't hear the foot steps as they approached. She barely even heard the command come from the trooper behind her.

"Put your hands up and turn around slowly." A lightly modulated voice demanded.

Rey's eyes were squeezed shut, tears creeping out from between their lids. Her heart thrummed in her aching chest. "Damn it Kylo, you answer me!" She yelled through their bond and the man on the other end painfully jerked to life. His mind being forcefully yanked from his state of deep recuperative meditation.

His eyes flew open and her name flew from his mind to hers. "Rey...? What...?"

"Poe..." Her mind was frantic with the return of his to the empty space that she left open for him. She was sending him bits and pieces in her frantic state.

He's alive, he's ok... She comforted herself, bathing her mind in the weight of his. She nearly chocked out a sob as she found her lugs working again.

Kylo Ren scowled. What the Kriff! Just what the Force is she thinking, opening our connection while gushing over another man's safety?

Jealousy... why was she feeling jealous so suddenly? She pushed the random feeling aside and focused on warning him instead. "Poe has..."

"I haven't hurt the damn pilot, Scavenger!" He informed her angrily. "I'm reconsidering now though." He honestly admitted.

"No, Ren you don't understand..."

"Are you daft? I said put your hands up Resistance scum!" The trooper called out again, this time noticing the jacket by her feet.

Rey tensed unsure of what was suddenly going on around her but feeling a definite threat at her back.

"Scavenger, where are you?" Ren felt her tense, he pushed further into her mind and found Finn on the ground at her feet. He was alive but struggling with some kind of pain.

Rey turned slowly, her hands raising in the air as she side stepped to face the storm trooper at her back.

"There's a bomb... I don't know where but Poe is planning to-"

"I know, it's already been taken care of."

His voice was stern and solid in her mind. She felt it moving through her and it brought waves of relief with it's lingering weight. More tears slipped down her face and she felt her hand dabbing at her cheek though she hadn't sent it there herself.

"I told you, you had two days, I thought you understood that implied I wouldn't hurt them until..." His voice started off ringing with clear annoyance but as he followed her thoughts he realized the truth behind her emotions.

She was worried for her friends but it was for him that her tears bled for. He was dumbfounded, speechless, completely taken by surprise. Her relief coursed through her, flooding into his end and there was no doubt of what he'd found in her head to be true.

"You... you were trying to warn me..."

"They were going to-"

"Yes and while you care for them, it was me you were concerned most for. Me you wanted to protect." He said the words just as she was realizing them herself.

She'd panicked over his safety. What did she even say to that? How should she feel? "Your my bond mate... mine." The words out of her mouth surprised her as much as they'd surprised him. She was protective of him, bordering possessive.

"What?" The trooper asked in confusion.

Her hand waved across the air and her mouth moved without her consent. "Move on, there is nothing out of the ordinary here."

"I should move on, nothing out of the ordinary here." The trooper turned to leave but Rey's voice caught his attention before he even took one step away.

"Provisions... food, water. Just enough for one." She added quickly.

"I will get provisions." He began marching away when Ren canceled the order.

"That's unnecessary. Just return to your routine. All is well here." Rey said, to late to process what Ren had done.

"I'll just return to my routine. Everything seems well here." And the trooper began forward again.

"No wait!"

The trooper stopped.

"Move on." Ren ordered through her voice and the trooper continued.

"What are you doing? I... I need those supplies." She grumbled at him nervously, while her stomach growled at her angrily.

"You most certainly do not!" He calmly replied not planning on leaving her in the area long enough to receive them anyway.

Rey turned back in Finn's direction. He'd passed out in the dirt and of course Ren took notice.

"What happened?" His alarmed voice moved through her head and she switched her weight from one foot to the other uncomfortably. "Was it the trooper?" He inquired curiously.

Rey's right hand ran up and down her left arm nervously. "I... I shouldn't have tried it but... he wouldn't tell me." She passed what had happened to him through thoughts in her mind like sharing pictures through a holopad.

Surprise ran from his end to hers followed by an immeasurable amount of... pride. She lingered on the feeling for a quiet moment before snapping at him, mostly to redirect herself, she didn't deserve praise for what she'd done to her friend.

"We needed that food and water, Ren."

"You don't need the trouble it would cause if that soldier gets caught brining it to you. Where's he going to hide it, —his pockets?"

Rey could feel his sarcasm through their bond and she really wanted to show off the scowl she was giving him on her end. Ren smiled at her annoyance, always happy to pull a rise out of her whenever he could.

"We need to hide the boy and you need to get to the temple." He raised her arm for her and Rey could feel the Force in the area gathering around her.

It was mesmerizing. She felt it like warm water closing around her raised arm. The way he interacted and controlled the Force so easily through her was amazing. The next thing she knew Finn's body was rising in front of her, levitating through the power Ren controlled through her mind and body. She gasped and warmth spread through their bond.

"I'm going to teach you so much, Rey." He warmly boasted, his pride beaming from the amazement she was feeling over his capabilities instead of the bolstering of the narcissism he usually felt over his power. He remembered how awestruck he was in the beginning to. The way he felt when he watched his Master interact with the Force, even Luke Skywalker had impressed him once upon a long time ago.

Rey swallowed and this time it wasn't from fear or disgust or even self criticism. She was intrigued. Curious beyond what reason told her was normal. She was interested in the Force, in her power, in the power she could have, but most of all she was interested in him. The way he made her feel, the strange sensations his voice caused to ripple through her. The way she heated when he was around physically and how complete she felt when his mind joined with hers.

She could feel the intoxication of his power rushing through hers, mingling with the Force around her and the Force she housed. Rey wasn't stupid, she knew that some of what she felt was the influence of both their bond and his emotions but after how she just felt when he was gone, how she felt when she thought she may never get him back... this was more then outside influences. Rey was enamored and it was mostly with him, Kylo Ren.

Only a few silent moments had passed before they had found a good spot to set Finn down. She was tucking his jacket over him when Ren suddenly answered a question that had been following her sine they started off to find somewhere safe for Finn to rest.

"Because he's important to you." Kylo bit out uncomfortably and Rey knew enough not to push the topic further.

It was moments like this that left her the most puzzled. Moments when it was just the two of them and he was going against what she felt to be his natural grain all in an attempt to make her more comfortable or... happy. He constantly stepped out of his comfort zone to make her feel at ease or to assist her in some way or another. It was as strange as it was alarming but she appreciated it. He'd only ever asked for one thing in return from her and even that seemed more beneficial to her then it could be for him. He wanted to teach her. Sure it would open her up for him to more easily access her power but what was that compared to his?

"I have to go now, Rey. Make your way to the temple. You're not far from where you need to be." He was suddenly distant, already pulling away from her mind.

"But the ruins are huge... how will I find where I need to be?" She already sounded alarmed. She'd just gotten him here. Just gotten use to the weight of his mind nestling against hers again. Her voice became more frantic as he began closing of their connection again, why did he keep doing that? "I don't like this place Ren. I don't want to be alone here." She admitted, not caring how weak it made her sound. Every instinct she had warned her against this place. Every single fiber of her survival instincts were shooting off like little fireworks in her nerves.

Ren could feel her unease and he commended her for her awareness. "You shouldn't like this place, It's been filled with overwhelming Darkness since... well you shouldn't like it, but you should know by now that you're never really alone."

Rey shivered at his words. It was one thing to feel how she felt about this place, it was another to know Kylo Ren was confirming it.

At least she wasn't going crazy.

There was a half hearted chuckle from her bond mate. "No Rey, far from it. This place... it use to be filled with the Light. A place of peace and tranquility, though I never found that here myself, it was once the pinnacle of the Light side." His voice darkened as though the memories he was clearly reminiscing over were fading. "There was an immense shift in the Light, a turning point for the Dark side, and this place was lost to the light and has been since. Someone like you..." He trailed of for a brief moment before continuing. "You shouldn't feel comfortable here at all." His tone changed, his voice hardened and he felt suddenly cold to her. It was then that he began to close himself off to her again.

He was going to leave her here, alone, wandering around aimlessly. She thought in her panic.

"You're being dramatic." He stated flatly.

A spike of emotion flared through their line. She was offended and though he really wasn't in the position to currently do so, her reaction made him smile.

"Stop!" He demanded through his curved lips. She was about to get snippy with him when he cut her off. "Close your eyes."

His voice ran over her, sinking in like warm water through long hair. He soothed her, relaxed her nerves and eased her discomfort. She couldn't help but comply to his gentle demand so she did. Her eyes closed, her lashes fluttering as she waited to hear his voice again.

"Feel our bond. Feel me..." His words wrapped around her like silk and he gently tugged on the line that connected them.

Her feet shuffled forward and her breath fled from her chest like she'd been squeezed by invisible arms but it wasn't Ren. It was their bond reinforcing their connection, their overwhelming belonging to each other.

"You're already here." She announced, only then realizing what he was pointing out to her.

"Sweetheart, I've been here for hours." There was a lazy satisfaction in his words and he did nothin to hide it.

"What the Kriff, Kylo?!?" She snapped at him, angry that she'd been worried for his safety and he'd been here the whole time, probably laughing at her from his end.

His heart skipped in his chest, she'd said his name, just his first. It had been through a flash of frustration but she'd said it non the less. Their dynamic was shifting. No matter how her friends felt about him, they were moving past being enemies. They were becoming casual. Progress. He thought with a wicked smile on his face.

"Well, if you really want to kick my ass... all you have to do little Scavenger... is come find me. Our bond will lead you right to me." He said smugly, taunting her with his challenge.

She was already moving, already following the little string that flowed between them when his final words ran through her head.

"I'll be waiting."

* I really enjoy the warm feels I get From kylo's softer side but omg do I love the cocky side of Solo/Ren. Mhmhn I do I do I Do-oooo! Also that poor storm trooper and darn it Finn... what part of that plan sounded like a good one... silly boy. Any way I hope you guys enjoyed, I know I did. OMG REY; Finally coming out of the Team Kylo closet internally. *

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-DarkGuardian-