( Kylo holds his breath without realizing it as the ship glides through the hangar doors, the motion of them sliding closed behind them an almost physical feeling as they are effectively cut off from whatever it is that is going to happen next. Knowing the First Order, knowing the Hapans, whatever waits for the Resistance fighters left inside the city walls, it won't be a pleasant second chapter. They can't afford to waste time lingering on those options, though, and in knowing that the General's ship never kissed Hapan soil, Kylo allows himself not to feel anything at all for the people who have been left behind. This is war, after all, and he is willing to pay more attention to their flight path and keeping the ship in the air as well as he's able to in terms of contribution than he is willing to spare thought for those they have had to leave behind.
Rey, though, is a different story.
Her pain is his own in the broadest sense only. He spares a glance back at the planet as they hurtle toward black space, glancing the General's ship as it rockets away from Hapes and into infinite possibility beyond. The acute sense of betrayal and abandonment that slices through Rey's consciousness, her beating, bleeding heart, punches him in the chest as a result of both their proximity to one another and their link. He tries to shake it loose, focusing on the controls and tracking lights that wink to life within the cockpit, running through the catalog of information that he has not accessed regarding this ship in a very, very long time. But when the sensation borders on achieving real volume within the dome of his skull, Kylo turns to look at her out of the corner of his eye and doesn't miss the shining brightness washing out the color of her eyes.
He doesn't know what to say, so he says nothing at first, flipping a switch that signals an unnecessary readout - more of the ship complaining about the state of the heating unit, a panel that needs closed somewhere but poses no immediate danger or risk - and trying to focus the bulk of his thought that isn't directed toward the ship and their escape on the possibility of encountering one of the Knights on Mandalore. What it would mean in terms of their overall chances, he can't be sure, just as he can't be sure that they will even meet Ji or Dryx or any of the others, although he knows that he'll feel it when they're about to. The deep pulse of Rey's wound through the Force prevents him from focusing completely, though, and so after a moment he glances over at her again, obviously privy to her conflict but operating as if he hasn't seen the shine of her eyes and the tears that gather there, however briefly. He's always preferred it when people pretend not to notice, himself. )
Keeping yourself alive and free is doing them more of a service than you would be able to do had you remained on Hapes.
( He could offer her some platitude, some made up inside knowledge about the First Order or Hapan customs, but they would be lies, and Kylo doesn't have any desire to start lying to her now. She would know he was making it up, besides, and he's never been particularly well-versed in feigning sympathy or compassion; it's either present, or it isn't. )
ugh i want it so bad just for the iconnnnssss whyyyyy isn't it april 5th
Rey, though, is a different story.
Her pain is his own in the broadest sense only. He spares a glance back at the planet as they hurtle toward black space, glancing the General's ship as it rockets away from Hapes and into infinite possibility beyond. The acute sense of betrayal and abandonment that slices through Rey's consciousness, her beating, bleeding heart, punches him in the chest as a result of both their proximity to one another and their link. He tries to shake it loose, focusing on the controls and tracking lights that wink to life within the cockpit, running through the catalog of information that he has not accessed regarding this ship in a very, very long time. But when the sensation borders on achieving real volume within the dome of his skull, Kylo turns to look at her out of the corner of his eye and doesn't miss the shining brightness washing out the color of her eyes.
He doesn't know what to say, so he says nothing at first, flipping a switch that signals an unnecessary readout - more of the ship complaining about the state of the heating unit, a panel that needs closed somewhere but poses no immediate danger or risk - and trying to focus the bulk of his thought that isn't directed toward the ship and their escape on the possibility of encountering one of the Knights on Mandalore. What it would mean in terms of their overall chances, he can't be sure, just as he can't be sure that they will even meet Ji or Dryx or any of the others, although he knows that he'll feel it when they're about to. The deep pulse of Rey's wound through the Force prevents him from focusing completely, though, and so after a moment he glances over at her again, obviously privy to her conflict but operating as if he hasn't seen the shine of her eyes and the tears that gather there, however briefly. He's always preferred it when people pretend not to notice, himself. )
Keeping yourself alive and free is doing them more of a service than you would be able to do had you remained on Hapes.
( He could offer her some platitude, some made up inside knowledge about the First Order or Hapan customs, but they would be lies, and Kylo doesn't have any desire to start lying to her now. She would know he was making it up, besides, and he's never been particularly well-versed in feigning sympathy or compassion; it's either present, or it isn't. )