Chapter Text
The wind whipped around her body as Rey walked down the hill. There was a storm that was approaching that matched her mood. She was beyond frustrated, and her anger threatened to spill over again. Loneliness is also building. Answers were waiting for her. Perhaps that would help with her wild emotions. She usually tries to hide feelings, though her anger was near impossible to keep at bay. She hopped off the grassy edge of the hill and onto the rough, wet granite below. She's been here before. She can't remember when or the exact number of times. Perhaps only just in her dreams, but it feels like a memory. The cool sting of the rough seas spritzed against her skin as the waves hit the nearby rocks. Now that she was closer to the island's edge, the wind felt rougher. She stepped over the soft layer of seaweed that dropped over the cave below. Rey knelt near the edge, where she could feel the call. She leaned further than she intended and fell.
Rey let out a startled scream as she fell. The pain took over her body when she landed in the water below. Rey gasped for air as she managed to break through the surface. An instinct she couldn't explain took over as she struggled to swim to the land in front of her. Rey still didn't understand how she made it to land. Catching her breath, she slowly stood up and saw the wall nearby. It resembled more of a dark mirror than the side of a rock. She felt a shiver as she walked towards it and felt the cold water slip down her now loose hair. Her body temperature had dropped, and the need to return to a shelter was taking over, but Rey knew answers were waiting for her.
In the dark mirror, she saw an infinite amount of her reflection mimic the movements she made. She knew this meant to confuse and frighten her. Rey almost felt trapped in a never-ending nightmare. The mirror kept calling to her, and she reached a hand forward.
"Let me see them. My parents. Please." She whispered and heard an immediate echo despite how quiet her command was.
Rey saw two figures walking, finally combining into one shape. An oddly familiar form of someone she knew, though she couldn't name who. The way they walked was also familiar. The truth was coming; it lay just behind this mirror. As the image began to clear, it shifted again, and she looked upon herself. She sank to her knees in defeat.
She managed to find her way out of the damp cave. Her body was still cold and now exhausted. Not just physically but mentally. She was mentally exhausted by it all. She couldn't stop shaking as the rain poured in sheets on and around her—the wind whipped it in all directions until she made it to her dirty hut. The stones kept most of the water out. Her ice-cold fingers trembled as she tossed dry wood into the pit in the middle of the room. Striking the flint a few times, she finally started the fire. She removed her vest and wrung it out before hanging it on a hook. Then grabbed a rough blanket the locals provided and wrapped it around herself as she shook, sitting near the fire. Nearly numb from the chill in the air and wet clothes and skin. It matched how she felt all over. She had no one to talk to, no one to understand, no one to offer her comfort. She might as well be back on Jakku. She knew it wasn't entirely sure. He would know what she went through and how she felt because he had already lived it.
Rey suddenly realized she wasn't alone and felt relief as she saw his figure. Deep down, she hoped he would come to her after the cave didn't produce results. It was ironic that Rey felt relieved to see her enemy. Or were they enemies? She didn't look at his face. Rey decided her relief would be gone if she looked up to him. She fixated on the flames and embers of the fire. Before Rey knew it, she told him everything. She told Kylo she was on the island from her visions and how Luke refused to help her. She also told him the cave offered no help.
"I thought I'd find answers here… I never felt so alone."
"You're not alone." The deep, velvet voice she had grown so accustomed to hearing came the voice that calls to her soul. Her eyes finally looked up, but she could not see all of his features. Everything was foggy.
"Neither are you; it isn't too late." She slowly reached a hand for him. A man she feels bound to, though she didn't understand why. He felt right. She dreamed of him before, when she was younger.
She watched as he apprehensively pulled the black leather glove off. Fascination filled her at seeing his bare hand. His fingers lightly trembled as he reached for hers. They didn't shake because he was cold. His fingers trembled because he longed for human touch, warm touch. He shut himself from love and trust because he was betrayed by those he loved and trusted the most. She understood what he was risking reaching towards her. They both weren't sure if they could touch. She couldn't move, watching the hand that frightened her before he reached out for hers. Then his fingertips touched hers. He felt so warm compared to how cold she was, aside from the hot tears that streamed down her face. His touch made her feel like she had come home. She had a series of other dreams that came in quick visions.
In a series of short, quick visions, Rey saw Kylo when he was younger. She felt his emotions and heard his memories. She first listened to his laugh, pain, frustrations, and fear when he was a child. He heard a menacing, dark voice that would take over his thoughts throughout his life. Kylo also had intense loneliness when his parents weren't there for him. He held onto feelings of betrayal from his uncle. His longing for her to understand him surprised Rey the most. More longing to want to know more about her. Respect and admiration for her. And then she saw the future; he changed his ways and returned with her. Another vision came. This time was a wedding ceremony. She could see his smile as he held her. Then the birth of children. She longed for these visions and wondered if he saw the same future as her.
Rey could see his eyes now. His dark eyes had hope in them, and she could feel her eyes did as well. She took a deep breath as she was overwhelmed by it all.
Rey knew what would happen next, and she wasn't ready.
Suddenly, he was ripped from her, and everything went black; she could barely hear the muffled voices around her. She could always recognize his voice.
Ben's large hand lightly ran a cool, wet cloth along her arms, careful of the IV stuck in her left arm, and then he blotted her neck as he softly spoke to her. It had been a few days since the accident.
"Of course, Rose sends her regards. She misses you. Finn is trying to stay strong. We all are." He dabbed her collarbone next, careful not to get her hospital gown wet. "Poe tries to keep them busy. Tries not to remind them of the accident." Kylo noticed the goosebumps developing on her skin, and he pulled a heavy blanket over her. He softly wiped the tears he saw on her cheeks.
"I think you can hear me... I hope you can hear me. Rey, open your eyes, please." Kylo's voice shook as he took Rey's hand and brought her limp fingers to his lips.
"Please, I need you with me. It's not home without you." He used his other hand to wipe his tears away quickly. He looked over her once more and found her face again. "You still look so beautiful. Like that day I first met you in the forest. It feels like an eternity, but it wasn't that long ago." He delicately stroked her hair as he lovingly gazed down at her. "You wake when you are ready.. I'll just keep telling you the boring details of my days and remind you of our good days together… but I do miss you terribly."
"Sir." A quiet voice from behind him softly called. "It's almost time for the med bay to close to visitors."
Ben held his breath as the officer talked to him. Feeling the fresh tears coming back, he simply nodded. After the officer left, Ben kissed her palm and carefully placed her hand back down before standing. He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "I'll come back for you, sweetheart. I promise."
In her deep slumber, she felt him leave, and her helplessness set in. Begging him to return while knowing he would keep his promise. Rey felt trapped. She couldn't move, open her eyes, or speak. She vaguely recognized other voices when they came to visit. But his voice, his presence, is what she desires the most. She loves him the most, and she can feel his love and sadness poor over her when he visits. She almost feels she can open her eyes to tell him she hears him, but her eyes refuse to cooperate. Her mind was exhausted again, and she felt another slumber coming as she replayed his words.
"I'll come back for you, sweetheart. I promise."