For the fifth time that training session, Kylo Ren was knocked to the floor. The hard steel was cold against his cheek, a harsh sting resounding in his hip from the impact. A hot anger flared up in his chest and he swore loudly as he sat up.
Standing above him was the very bane of his existence. At least, for the moment.
"You've lost your edge," she commented casually.
"Hold your tongue," He snapped.
Since fighting the Scavenger, Kylo had noticed she was speaking more freely to him, something he was not accustomed to. That was not the only thing he noticed. For example, though she had, once again, overpowered him, she was leaning more on her left leg than her right. As he sat there, Kylo saw her hand clenching and releasing the training pole she was leaning on.
"Ahri," Kylo said, climbing to his feet, "You're in pain."
Those wine-red eyes of hers blinked once, twice. "I'm fine."
Kylo suddenly thrust his hand toward her- she countered and pushed it away, opting to strike his abdomen with her pole. It was a weak attack, but a quick-thinking strategy- as he went to block her left, her right hand sprung up to hit his face. Kylo stumbled back, but found his footing and lunged at her. Ahri threw the pole down and crouched, swinging her leg out and knocking Kylo's feet from under him. He inhaled sharply as his back slammed against steel.
Ahri was exasperated. "Again!" She commanded sharply. Jade locks fell into her eyes- she brushed them away quickly. "You still move too slow. Faster this time!"
Kylo jumped to his feet and they began again. Though she chastised him for being slow, she was not as fast as she usually was. Kylo was familiar with her fighting style; They had trained together for years. Ahri was calm and calculated. When she wasn't using the Force, she was quick-footed and struck with deadly presicion. She was always on the offensive, but this time she stuck with the defensive.
As she twisted from his reach, Kylo's fist made contact with her right side. It was a near fatal blow, as her chances of winning the spar were dead. Ahri cried out in agony and fell backwards on her back. Instinctively, Kylo moved to her aid. She was curled up, hands gripping her side tightly. Wimpers came from her, invoking a strange tug in Kylo's chest.
He suddenly felt-
"Guilt is not yours to claim," Ahri said through gritted teeth. "This was a small sacrifice."
Kylo said nothing as he crouched before her. He tried to keep his feelings in check, but Ahri was perceptive. For one who felt no real emotion, she was quite capable of pinpointing his. Her hands moved from her side as he lifted her shirt. There was an ugly scar there, identicle to his own facial injury. The skin around it was red and angry, puffy and swollen.
He wanted to apologize, but the words stuck in his throat.
"Your injury is healing slowly. Too early to start sparring," he said instead. His hands lingered at the hem of her shirt when he pulled it back down. His chest tightened. She was injured, he was weak. Had the Scavenger really done so much damage to them?
Ahri slowly pushed herself into a sitting position. She felt as though there were a coil in her chest, ready to come undone.
"You're anxious," she stated plainly. Kylo avoided her gaze. Those eyes...he felt a tug at his chin and he turned his head to look at her. Her hand fell from his face. "About what...I can't decide."
"It's no concern of yours," he snapped. But he knew what she was going to say-
"Any emotion of yours is my concern. We are connected, Knight of Ren. Regardless of your opinion of it."
"Silence!" Kylo commanded, standing to his full height. Ahri sat there, staring up at him with eyes so crimson he though he would lose himself in the pools of roses. He wouldn't let her distract him, however. "You've been speaking too boldly as of late."
Ahri's blank stare was absolutely infuriating. "Anything I feel and convey is a product of your own making. Perhaps you're losing control over your emotions," she stated.
Kylo inwardly cursed her. She was right. Since the encounter with the Scavenger, he had found himself expressing his anger more frequently and with less restraint than he usually did. Without saying anything further, he reached out his hand to her. Ahri accepted it without hesitation and allowed him to help her up. Kylo stood still as she leaned on him for support. She sucked in a sharp breath as pain sprawled up her side, but aside from that her face was a blank page.
Kylo felt a familiar pressure at the back of his neck. It was subtle but strong, almost painful. Ahri felt it as well.
"Supreme Leader Snoke is requesting your pressence," she said, moving away from him. Her hands folded neatly infront of her, "Would you like me to remain here?"
"No. Join me," was his reply.
The two got dressed in silence. Kylo put his shirt back on and Ahri slid into her high-collared uniform. She smoothed down her shirt before zipping it up. Though it was a long sleeve, it left her shoulders exposed, keeping her somewhat cool. She reached up and released her hair from her ponytail, rod-straight jade locks falling neatly just past her shoulders. She ran her fingers through her hair, pushing her bangs from her face.
Kylo was watching her as he worked his own jacket buttons. In her black uniform, Ahri was quite a sight. It wasn't her strange looks that caught his attention, however. It was her personality, or lack of one. Even with her monotonous disposition, he found himself drawn to her empty, sometimes harsh realistic outlook.
"Ahri," he said as they walked to the training room doors. She regarded him with disinterest, though he knew she was listening. He remembered the wound on her side. There was something he wanted to ask about it, but it was forgotten as his eyes met hers.
"Yes?" she responded. Her finger paused over the 'open-door' button.
As the door opened he rushed past her, keeping his head down. Ahri quickly followed behind. She knew he was hiding something from her, but didn't push the subject. He would tell her soon enough.