Several weeks after the battle of Crait, the force-bond between Rey and Kylo Ren is still niggling at the back of Rey's skull. She feels his lurking presence all the time and her constant anxiety over when his mind will nudge against hers is making Rey tense and making concentration on her Jedi training and everyday duties, almost impossible.

Rey has been working at the newly established resistance base as a mechanic and is getting rather annoyed at how many times Kylo's mind pushes against hers at the worst possible moment. The startling appearances result in cut or banged fingers from whatever tool she happens to be working with at the time.

Neither Rey nor Kylo seem to have any control over when or where the other will appear until one night when Rey is trying in vain to meditate on the floor of her room and the push of Kylo's mind will not relent to let her focus.

Rey drops her hands from where they rest on her knees and lets out a frustrated huff. Opening her eyes for a moment with an irritated expression and a frustrated growl, she re-settles into position and begins slowly lowering some of the mental barriers she had erected to keep Kylo out of her mind.

What do you want?!

She asks through the force-bond and then smirks slightly at the brief feeling of surprise she feels through their bond. Rey can't see Kylo yet, but she gets the clear idea that he is alone and also trying in vain to concentrate on something.

Kylo recovers fast from her surprising presence and quips back a response to Rey.

I want nothing from you, Scavenger. I thought we had an unspoken agreement to ignore the bond between us.

He says with accompanying feelings of resentment and frustration.

Rey straightens up slightly from her sitting position on the floor and opens her eyes to see a hazy figure reclined on her bed. As Kylo's form solidifies, Rey stands up and takes an offensive stance facing the man looking very relaxed and bored on her bed, with a book open in his lap.

Rey's temper rises.

I was ignoring you, but I can't concentrate with your constant pressing against my mind!

She says, her voice becoming increasingly exasperated until she is almost yelling at him.

Kylo snaps his book shut and swings his legs over the side of the bed to stand and tower over her with an impatient glare.

I am not 'pressing on your mind'. I have no control over this bond and I assume you don't either since I can feel your mind almost all day and night.

Rey doesn't have a response for him and her mouth gapes momentarily. For some foolish reason she had been assuming that he was pestering her purposefully. She is aware of her mouth open as she scrambles for a scathing retort but before she can formulate an appropriately nasty response, Kylo goes on and takes a menacing step towards her.

I really hope that our bond is grading on your mind because it is becoming increasingly impossible to go about my day with your mind and your feelings pushing their way into mine. I can't attend meetings, I can't eat or bathe in peace!

Rey backs away a step as she sees his anger at her growing but now she straightens her spine and juts up her chin at him in defiance.

Then what do we do?

She asks and the two enemies glower at each other for a few tense moments before Rey lowers her eyes and sighs.

As much as I dislike the idea, maybe we should let it happen.

Kylo adopts a suspicious, but curious look as he studies Rey closer and she goes on.

The force-bond is clearly not going away, so what if we tried letting it flow a few times to see if that will stop the constant pressure on our minds.

When she finishes speaking, Rey looks up at Kylo's face to see him considering her suggestion. He surprises Rey when he begrudgingly agrees.

That seems like a reasonable idea.

Rey is awkwardly staring at him because she honestly didn't expect him to agree to her idea. She feels a quick flash of amusement in her mind before Kylo turns and once more, reclines on her bed.

What should we do during our time together?

Rey shakes herself into the present and steps back again to lean against the wall of her room, never taking her eyes off of the enemy, making himself comfortable again on her bed.

I don't know.

She admits after a long silence.

Perhaps we should think it over for a couple days and meet like this again, after that.

Rey nods slowly at first and then pushes away from the wall.

Yes. That is an acceptable compromise.

Kylo nods once and Rey watches him close his eyes as his figure blurs and is gone.

Rey flomps down on her newly vacated bed and lets out a massive breath as the tension she was holding within herself for weeks, starts to ebb out.

The constant pressure on her mind is gone and Rey finds herself drifting off into a deep dreamless sleep.