Chapter Text
Rey can taste the champagne on his tongue, aureate and effervescent. It tingles over her taste buds, much like the Ordrell rock candy she’d once had as a child on Jakku (She’d found it two years expired, so perhaps it wasn’t supposed to fizz like it had).
She’d immediately recognized the taste of the drink despite only having tasted champagne once - weeks ago when Leia had held a Black and White gala as a fundraiser for the Resistance.
It’d seemed ridiculous, dressing up fancily and sipping bubbly drinks and making nice with the people they needed to sponsor them - to join them. Spending money to make money.
Rey had stood uncomfortably in a custom-made gown Leia had ordered for her, the black to Poe’s white.
She had been inwardly glad she was the one wearing black, thinking that seeing Poe in all black would remind her too much of someone else.
Do you like the taste? he asks her over their bond, sensing their connection in these brief moments.
She senses his smug demeanor, the disdain and attraction crackling between them despite being thousands of miles apart.
Rey refuses to answer, instead focusing once more on the pieces of the lightsaber sitting in front of her.
Faintly, if she listens hard enough, she can hear the delicate clink of champagne flutes, the soaring sound of a string quartet, and the murmur of hundreds of voices.
A coronation party , he informs her, not that she asked. Soon I’ll take my rightful place as Emperor.
After slaughtering millions for your throne , Rey is goaded into speaking, her anger getting the best of her.
Careful, Rey. Anger is the path to the Dark Side.
A pause.
Then again, you never have been entirely Light.
Rey finds herself gritting her teeth, fists clenched in her lap until ten crescent moons imprint the palms of her hands.
You’re so bent on turning me to the Dark. Aren’t you worried that I’ll do the same - turn you?
A timbrous laugh, deep and intoxicatingly dark.
You already tried. It ended with you running from me once again, like that night in the forest. I wonder, what is it you’re running from? The Dark...or your destiny at my side?
The strength of Rey’s anger force-pushed the lightsaber pieces away from her and threw them into the wall, the Force crackling in her veins and igniting them molten red.
Your powers are growing, your precious Skywalker is gone, and there’s no one to teach you, came his voice across their bond, surprising gentle, caressing.
I have the Jedi texts, Rey spat in response, her eyes flickering to them automatically where they sat on her shelf.
Dusty tombs filled with ancient history and nothing more , came his response, elitist and above it all. You’ll learn nothing from them. You need a teacher.
Leia-
Another laugh, this one crueler, colder.
That woman cannot teach you how to do anything besides parlor tricks.
He continued.
You’re strong with the Force, Rey. Growing stronger each day. You need someone to guide you, to teach you control. Else you just might one day destroy your precious Resistance base in a flash of anger.
His words caused a flutter of panic in her stomach, eyeing the pieces of the lightsaber that had landed across the room.
But no, she wouldn’t let it get that bad.
I told myself that too. But Skywalker betrayed me and, in my anger, the Jedi temple burned.
His voice was blasé, unemotional, but Rey felt the tug of regret inside of her - felt his regret.
There was still Light in him, she felt it. If only she could get him to turn.
Give into me, Rey. You will be by my side, eventually. I’ve seen it.
Rey inhaled a shuddering breath.
It’s your destiny.
Rey shook her head.
She had seen Ben’s future herself.
Just a glimpse, but solid and clear.
He would turn, she knew. He would return to the Light.
But he had seen her turn as well. Had seen her by his side, thriving in the passion of the Dark.
She knew that neither of them had been wrong. That both would come to pass.
But Rey turning to the Dark?
She would never.
Not unless she was forced to do so. And one could not force someone to the Dark.
At the thought, Rey raised her head from where her face was nestled in her hands.
No, one could not be forced to one side or another.
One must choose it freely.
She took in a breath, the reality of their situation clear to her now.
Rey had to stop forcing Ben to choose from the safety of her own side. She must instead allow him his own choice, by his side .
They had told each other they were not alone. But they were on separate sides. They were more alone than ever, despite their forcebond.
Should they both be on the same side, both Dark, it meant that they could choose together the Light.
And it had to be together, because, for better or for worse, they were intrinsically tethered to one another the rest of their lives.
Rey had made up her mind.
I’m coming.