Chapter 46.

A few hours later, Rey slowly trailed behind Kylo as they both made their way to town, roughly three miles away from their hut.

After today's training session, it was a quiet day for the pair, each of them silently thinking about the events of their day, mainly the change in the force they both felt.

Earlier, when they arrived back at the hut, MOX proceeded to stitch up the wound on Rey's back as she remembered the trail of thoughts that led to the change... and her revelation of her feelings for Kylo.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that nothing changed as far as either of them switching sides. In fact, at the end of the day, she knew for certain that she'd never be able to go to the First Order with him, not willingly. No matter how she felt, she knew it was wrong.

And now, with every step she took behind Kylo, her mind begged her to plead with him, to rush his own mind and instead beg him directly to return to the Resistance with her...

But she knew it wasn't right.

Just as her mentors had told her, if he was destined to go home with her, it needs to be his choice.

Sighing, Rey picked up her pace to join him at his side, their cloaks flowing in the wind behind them as the stars above illuminated their path on the dirt trail.

"Put your hood up. No chances." he muttered to her.

By the tone of his voice, she knew his mind was heavy as well, and in fact, it was.

The closer he was to Rey, the more difficult it was to remember what his mission was, what his end result was supposed to be. At the end of the day, he still didn't even know for certain what it was.

There was no way he could go to the Resistance...

Deep down, he still harbored a deep hatred for many of them, and in the galaxy, there were rules that needed to be followed, an order that needed to maintained.

He could be that man to bring forth the new order... To control it, and Rey at his side, to help shape it.

Glancing at her from the corner of his eye, he was reminded that she was more than that...

She herself was the awakening in the force...

And the awakening in himself.

In all his years, amongst every star out there, she was different... And she treated him as an equal...

Something even he knew he was unworthy of, after all he had done in his lifetime.

Kylo Ren never pictured himself ever saying such a thing, let alone thinking it... Though instead of dwelling on it, he took it as proof of the change she was invoking, refusing to believe there was any trace of light within him, it was only Rey...

Just Rey...

That's all his life was now.

And that was something he was okay with.

( X )

Approaching the town now, the cloaked and hooded pair stopped to speak right outside of the town line, the roads lit up by strings of light, laughter and music filling their ears.

Rey eyed what she could see, studying the strip of stores just a few yards away.

The town itself was simple, she could tell immediately that the people and creatures were what made it home. It seemed warm, the residents seemed welcoming, a complete opposite of Cinnon'Ra.

A few tables were set up along the road, a couple creatures flocking to them to eye the goods the owners sold.

Rey couldn't help the small smile that played across her lips as she watched their transactions.

"Remember, keep your hood on. Do not draw your saber unless I do. The people here are decent, I've never encountered a problem. But it's been some time since I've been here. Be alert." He warned, peering down and watching her face to ensure she understood.

Rey nodded, taking the moment to search his face for any real sign of worry. She was satisfied when she found none, and tried not to think about how her heart skipped a beat as her eyes landed on the scar across his cheek, warmth already covering the depth of her belly with a sudden need...

It only grew when her eyes fell to the subtle facial hair he was growing having not had a razor to keep his face shaved.

His jaw tensed under gaze, the instant need filling the air between them. When Rey abruptly turned her back towards him and began walking again, his eyes quickly narrowed at her, unsure if the sudden desire in the air was from him or her.

Inhaling sharply, he followed her, easily catching up to her in only two short strides.

Glancing around, he didn't feel any detection of a threat, and used this time to excuse himself as they strode along the shops, the short, green owners all nodding a quick and warm greeting to them.

Rey began to slow once they approached the vendor tables, admiring the jewels and goods they offered.

Coming to a stop, Rey reached out to softly touch one of the pins that lay cushioned in a box.

It was a pin he had seen many times growing up, the pin of the Monarch. He never thought he'd see another...

Kylo tried to push past the thought of it being a sign, or even mere coincidence, and instead spoke so that only she could hear.

"Stay nearby. I'm going to the pharmacy, I should only be inside for two minutes, not any longer." he muttered, his breath tickling her ear.

Rey looked up to him, meeting his eyes. She nodded.

Reaching into the pocket of his cloak, he retrieved a coin bag filled with currency, taking what he needed before giving the pouch to Rey.

"Buy whatever you'd like." Kylo said.

With wide eyes, Rey gaped at the contents of the bag, not having seen such a large sum of money in her life.

"Ben, I can't..." she whispered, trying to give him the bag back.

"I have plenty more, I insist." he said before turning on his heel and heading inside.

Glancing around, Rey quickly shoved the bag into her cloak pocket before turning to admire the pin once more. It was some sort of insect, she knew that much. But this one, seemed so elegant, the jeweled bug crested in middle of blue and gold crystals and diamonds.

It seemed so powerful, royal in its simple nature.

Rey smiled, her finger skimming it once more.

A soft chuckle escaped the mouth of the vendor, a small, stocky and green creature that was watching Rey. As Rey looked up to meet their eyes, he smiled and nodded, his brows raising in hopes of her approval for the jewel.

Rey smiled back before readjusting her hood to cover her cheeks, glancing back down to the pin before she made her way down the isle of shops.

Each vendor and resident she passed eyed her, although they were more curious than anything. Through the force, she did not pick up any ill feeling from any of them, in fact, she felt very welcomed.