it’s storming when he reaches ahc-to.
he insisted on only taking a few of the knights, despite the supreme leader’s obvious disapproval. it’s not foolish, it’s STRATEGIC --- in case rey the scavenger and his uncle---- THE OLD MAN miraculously survive or defeat the three knights, there were still SIX left--- DEADLIER than these two at his side.
❛ leave the girl to ME. ❜ authoritative commands are issued through the CRACKLE of his vocoder, ❛ do NOT underestimate skywalker. he is a fully - trained jedi, and he will not be easy. ❜
❛ why are we leaving the girl to YOU? ❜ istur, the tall female with an inquisitor - style blade, practically REEKS of overconfidence. he hopes she loses an arm or gets knocked down a few pegs, at the LEAST. ❛ SHE BEAT YOU. ❜
❛ your ego is INFLATED, as always. ❜ his voice holds no humor, as istur huffs angrily. ❛ even if being hit with a bowcaster was a viable excuse for my failure, i still have a score to settle with the girl. LEAVE HER TO ME. ❜
perhaps he shouldn’t have trusted istur to LISTEN. perhaps, as he’s dueling the GRATING scavenger ( rey, her name is rey, ) his traitorous mind whispers as he drives her BACK, BACK, BACK towards the rocky cliff face. ren practically snarls at the thought, shoves it away, stuffs it down in the overcrowded box in the pits of his fragmented soul where he keeps all of those STUPID thoughts about the scavenger.
the rain stings his eyes, even though he’s wearing a helmet. that’s been happening lately--- feeling PAIN or EMOTIONS that weren’t HIS. he has an ongoing, cringe - worthy theory that ---- of all the kriffing RIDICULOUS things that could happen --- he was bonded. to HER.
there’s a furious clash of blades, sparks flying from the kyber - powered blades as he tries to be ANGRY. to HATE.
❛ you MAIMED ME, ❜ a wide swipe that she easily avoids, ❛ LEFT ME FOR DEAD------ ❜ their blades meet again, and he shoves all of his weight into the strike, ❛ and after all of THAT----- ❜ she kicks him in the still - healing blaster wound ; he ROARS like a wounded beast and staggers back, ❛ ----all of MY TRAINING--- ❜ she pushes him back, back, back---- ❛ ----AND MY SUFFERING---- ❜ he’s losing control, spiraling out! she’s gaining the upper hand, and it makes him FURIOUS --- anger directed more at himself and his PAIN than her------
❛ ------ AND I STILL CAN’T H A T E YOU!!! ❜
she opens her mouth to say something, their sabers sparking. there’s a TREMBLE in the force--- someone’s using it on.... on what? something nearby, that’s for sure.... but WHAT?
the ground HEAVES, shudders, and finally c r u m b l e s beneath rey’s feet, sending her into the unforgiving sea.
he’s not sure what drives him to rip off his helmet and dive after her when she doesn’t resurface--- CLEARLY, he’s insane, for one ---but the panic that blooms within his chest as he dives, the burning of his lungs, the sensation of DROWNING, it... it overwhelms him. it consumes him.
( the worst part is that the fear and panic is not hers alone. no, it’s equal parts HERS and HIS as he battles the sea to clutch the tiny girl to his broad chest. he holds onto her as if she is a priceless memento that he cannot bear to lose, much like the old pair of trick dice that hangs heavy in the folds of his robes. )
he fights his way to the shore, carrying her in his arms much like that fated day on takodana. ( a BRIDAL CARRY--- strategically stupid and leaving him VULNERABLE. but it also didn’t feel right to throw her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes... ) he puts all his effort and will into reviving her ( she has to BREATHE, she has to MAKE IT, he’s losing her and it SCARES him and he doesn’t know why --- )
finally, finally, she’s heaving up water, and he wants to COLLAPSE after such an emotional and trying turn of events. ren sits in the wet sand, trying to catch his breath as he can feel the life return to her.
this girl’s going to be the death of me.
@spacesmol wanted a fake episode 8 starter ri p
