A/N: Take a listen to "I'll Be Good" By Jaymes Young. Music seems to inspire all of my writing and this song was particularly good.
She was calm.
Eyes closed, she allowed her thoughts to flow, and immersed herself in her surroundings.
Rey inhaled, and allowed her nose to fill with the sweet, heady scents of cool, damp earth, a far cry from the salty, sandy, blistering heat of Jakku.
Straining her ears, she heard the soft, rippling movement of water as it swayed and crashed against the rocks, or flittering and roiled over the edge of the large cliff overhead.
Her ears also pricked at the sound of the wind gently flittered through the leaves and blades of grass, as it brushed against her own cheeks and ruffled the loose tendrils of her hair that had come undone.
Sucking in a large breath, she tasted the salt from the water spray and smiled.
So different than Jakku…
The meditative state she found herself in, however, didn't help her completely ignore the gnawing pang of foreboding that tickled her senses. No matter how great the desire to remain on this tranquil, desolate island, there was still so much to do.
And still so much to fight for.
And while Rey was certainly adept at basic maneuvers with her staff, a lightsaber was another thing altogether.
And as loathe as she was to admit her frustration at him, Rey couldn't deny the rippling agitation at Luke Skywalker's refusal to train her, nor accept the lightsaber and return to his sister.
He'd outright rejected her, tossing the revered Jedi weapon behind himself, and stalking angrily away, tattered grey robes billowing behind him.
The years of solitude had not done the war hero any favors, she admitted somberly, rising to her feet. Rey cast a quick glance towards Luke's hut at the top of the large, expansive peak, and she sighed.
The man's face was weather, worn, chiseled and wrinkled in much the same way many of the rocks had been beaten upon by the wind and rain and ocean spray.
And oh the way he'd frowned at her! The deep bitterness that clouded his eyes as he regarded her and tried to pry into her mind ever so subtly.
When he tossed the lightsaber behind him, flippantly, eyes blazing with contempt and defiance, she'd been surprised.
His verbalized refusal wasn't as shocking.
But, Rey was under strict orders to attempt to persuade the crotchety old Jedi that his sister needed his help.
So far though? It wasn't proving a successful mission. And Rey was stuck here until she did succeed. Leia made her promise.
And Rey wasn't one to go back on her word.
With a large huff, the girl removed the lightsaber from her belt and gently set it aside, picking up the staff she'd set beside her when she'd first found this small meadowed shoreline.
Straightening her stance, the girl brought the staff upright, stamping the base of it into the soft, malleable ground. She felt a sense of satisfaction at the way the ground buckled lightly to her touch.
Flexing her fingers across the cool, familiar metal, the girl focused her gaze on the coastline and a large rock formation that jutted from the water, imposing and looming ahead of her.
It obstructed her view.
Pointing her staff parallel to the ground the girl swung the lithe metal rod above her head, letting the metal slip delicately around her palm and through her fingers before tightening her hold again and forcing the upper end of the staff towards the rockface before her.
She did this again in the opposite direction, this time, pivoting her feet so she stood at an angle to the rippling tides and the large, bulky mass that obstructed her view of the sea and the sun.
Again her hands loosened their hold of the staff, letting it slide easily through her grip, across her wearied palms, until she pulled her hands together, strengthened her hold and leveled and imaginary blow against the rockface she couldn't reach.
She repeated this again and again, throwing in a few more pivoting juts in her footing, spinning once to her opposite side.
She tried an upper-cutting motion with the staff, imagining that she could strike the rock from here.
Then she tried moving her feet off the ground, jumping and leveling an imaginary blow at the rock.
Faster she pushed her movements, her feed easily finding purchase against the rocky terrain.
She kept her eyes leveled on her target, forcing her blows hard and fast. At one point she spun completely around before forcing her staff parallel to the ground again.
As the imagined assault continued she let the frustrations of this mission sink in, weave through her shoulders, down her arms and to her fingers. By consequence, the blows were more forceful, and Rey felt the tension between her weapon and the air around her as she moved the staff around over and over again.
Luke Skywalker was rejecting the resistance.
Luke Skywalker, the Jedi master of legend…
Rejecting his sister, rejecting this fight.
Rejecting her.
Rey let out a low growl as she dropped her staff and panted staring out at the rockface before her.
Her hands clenched and unclenched as she felt the straining pull of that mysterious power inside her.
It frightened and exhilarated her.
But the only one who could actually help her…
He'd refused.
He was rather surprised to find himself observing her.
He knew she wasn't there, in his chambers, and yet, he could feel the soft swishes her staff had made, could hear her deep breathing as she strained her muscles in order to move precisely, powerfully, going through her paces.
And despite the absurdity of the situation, and the possibility that he'd finally gone mad, he couldn't help but pinpoint some flaws in the girl's stance and in her movements.
She was fearsome with her staff, that was certain, but he suspected that she wasn't skilled in many other weapons.
And that'd be a problem.
Well, for her anyhow.
He smirked derisively, silently recalling her feral snarl in the woods and the way she'd darted towards him, haphazard and vicious. She'd hacked at him, stumbling and sliding through the snow on Starkiller. She'd only been more surefooted after she'd tapped into that power, into that raw energy that he could feel cascading through her veins.
She needed a teacher though.
For, while she'd bested him—he placed a hand carefully against the long scar that ran along his cheek—she'd been lucky to do so.
And luck wouldn't always be there to save her.
With a frown, Rey's eyes drifted to the lightsaber at her feet.
The cool smooth metal of the hilt called to her and made her question the old Jedi's motives for rejecting it to callously.
She stared, feeling her chest tighten as she watched the silvery sheen of the hilt caressed by the low grass that swayed in the cool breeze, kissing the surface of the metal.
Without a second thought, the girl reached down and plucked the weapon from the ground, cradling the surprisingly heavy object in her hands.
She scanned the outer structure carefully, noting the few notches and nicks the metal bore after years of handling and abuse.
And battles.
'What conflict it must have been a part of.' She mused thoughtfully, 'What history it contained.'
And Luke had thrown it away without a second thought.
Thrown it away and refused to acknowledge her either.
The silvery sheen of the hilt caught the sunlight, forcing Rey to squint briefly as her frown deepened.
She glared at the lightsaber before shooting a glance towards the rocky island before raising the weapon to the ready.
She adjusted her hands to grasp the hilt of the lightsaber, and spread her feet as she'd done with her staff, feeling the soft dirt and rocks shift beneath her boots.
If he wouldn't accept this…
Rey could feel the soft pulsing power of that force—the force—coursing through her skull, downwards towards her legs and fingertips. Her hands shook lightly at the vibrations of power that coursed unrestricted.
With a swift flick of her finger weapon ignited with a 'zwoosh' and Rey felt the tantalizing warmth of the soft blue blade near her cheek.
With a small smirk, the girl cast her attention back to the rockface ahead of her and she squared her shoulder, flexed her fingers before bringing the blade parallel to the ground as she'd done with her staff.
She swung her blade upward, loosening her hold ever so slightly to allow the hilt to spin in her palm.
You need a teacher. That's a terrible hold.
The girl jerked back in surprise, a soft disgruntled squeak escaping her lips as the lightsaber went soaring from her grip and sailing through the air, and—to her surprise—nearly through the visage of Kylo Ren, who stood stoically leaning against a tree, arms folded and brow quirked.
He ducked his head lightly as the saber smacked against the tree with a hiss before disengaging its blade and clattering to the ground.
Rey stood, mouth agape, heart hammering wildly against her chest as she stood peering into the derisive and judgmental gaze of her adversary.
The same adversary who, realistically, couldn't be here.
Right?
Suddenly, in a panic, the girl reached for her staff, and angled it towards Kylo Ren, her eyes narrowing and a snarl escaping her lips.
"How did you find me?"
To her query he snorted and shook his head.
"I thought you were intelligent scavenger," he snipped at her. "Had I been here, you'd taken my head off with the lightsaber you couldn't keep in your scrawny little mitts."
Rey glowered at the man, tightening her grip on her staff as she dug her heels into the ground.
"What are you doing here?"
Her tone was low, clipped and accusatory.
"How are you doing this?"
Again he snorted and shook his head, letting out a low huff of indignation.
"How should I know?" He retorted, pushing himself away from the tree as he unfurled his folded arms.
Rey was struck, suddenly, by the informal attire he bore. Gone with his long overcoat and hood, several buttons of his tunic undone and the cowl about his neck missing.
His dark hair was mussed and waving haphazardly about his face, threatening to flop into his eyes if he wasn't careful.
"Like I said though, you need a teacher."
"No."
The rebuttal came out of her mouth before she could comprehend his offer.
She didn't want to feel more anger than she already had.
At her refusal, Kylo Ren rolled his eyes.
"You're a fool then. You'll die in short order before we meet again."
"Now just minute," She refuted, stepping forward, closer to the infuriating enemy before her, "You think I can trust you with anything? You're my enemy. You're a monster."
The man's eyes darkened as he scanned her face.
"Yes I am," He agreed lightly, eyes alight with a deep, vicious fire, "And you'd do well to remember that. I only suggest you need a teacher to give you a fighting chance. Make the sport worth my while."
He watched the way the girl's countenance darkened, he felt the influx in the power that surrounded her being and seemed to tug at his own senses, linking the two of them together.
'That had to be it.'
The man pinched the bridge of his nose and cursed whatever twist of fate had brought him here and glared at the girl.
"I know that Luke Skywalker has rebuked you," He marked the way the girl stiffened and cast him a suspicious, inquisitive stare.
He resisted the urge to roll his eyes, reveling how uncomfortable he seemed to make her.
"Don't think me so stupid. I figured it out quite easily. I know you've found him, though I can't seem to see any of your surroundings, and I can guess that he's refused you. I sense it in your thoughts."
"Get out of my head," she snarled defensively, anger rolling over her in waves.
'Good' he thought 'Make her angry. Help her see the power in that.'
"If he's refused you, then let me show you how to handle that lightsaber. You need a teacher."
There it was again.
The admonishing stare, the confident, predatory nature that oozed off Kylo Ren. His muscles were taut, jaw clenched, frown firmly tugging at his lips as his eyes tracked her every move.
Dangerous energy rippled off him.
And Rey hated it.
"No thanks. I refused you already didn't I? Now leave me alone."
In an act of bravery, and with her heart in her throat, the girl marched forward, towards the imposing, dark figure and reached for the lightsaber that lay forgotten by the, no scarred, tree.
Hastily the girl grasped the hilt and turned her back on the spectral image of her enemy.
Marching back to her original position, the girl turned away from Kylo Ren and back to the imposing rockface that stood stalwart amongst the waves and roiling water.
She raised the weapon again, let her eyes slip closed and sucked in a deep breath, willing her heart to ease in its erratic beating.
She could do this.
She didn't need anyone to…she didn't want anyone to help her.
She'd survived this long on her own…
For the second time, Rey raised the saber parallel to the ground and pressed the button, igniting the familiar heated blade, pointing its tip towards the rockface that she knew was before her.
She raised her arm, shifted her stance, bending her knees ever so slightly, and loosened the hold on the hilt of the saber, allowing the weapon to flow freely between her fingers as she brought her arm backwards-
But you're lonely aren't you? And you're scared. Scared of what this power could do to you, how it feels as though you're barely holding on, barely escaping being consumed by it.
For the second time that day, Rey's concentration was interrupted and with a surprised jolt, the lightsaber slipped from her grip yet again and soared through the air.
This time, it struck a rock before tumbling a ways down the hillside.
She let out a low string of curses as she scrambled after the tumbling weapon.
In the back of her mind she swore she could hear the man snigger.
I told you you needed a teacher. I can teach you the ways of the force and the ways to wield the weapon of the Jedi.
Rey ignore him, determined to do this on her own.
She wouldn't succumb to that vapid, arrogant, devious fiend.
Once more her fingers curled around the hilt and she hastily scaled the rest of the steps back to where she'd originally planted her feet and proceeded once more to her first position.
She could do this.
She could—
Again and again the blade slipped from her grip when she attempted to maneuver the lightsaber to the parallel position strike.
It was infuriating, too, that her adversary stood there, stoic and silent, carefully analyzing each shift in her footing and each time the revered Jedi weapon pulled away from her hold.
However derisive his comments had been before, now Kylo Ren was silent, ochre orbs narrowed thoughtfully, mouth tilted into a light smirk at her failure.
She watched the way his obsidian hair ruffled and swayed, much as the grass blades had against the wind.
Her heart fluttered lightly even as she silently seethed at her own failings.
But she would do this.
She could do this.
Stop thinking that the blade and the hilt are balanced as your staff is. His voice coaxed from the back of her mind, nudging at her senses.
Rey snorted derisively and tried to push the man out of her head.
Leave me alone.
It was Ren's turn to sigh.
Listen, if you ever want to find yourself confident with that weapon you need to stop comparing it to your precious staff. They're two different weapons.
Rey glowered
I'm not going to accept you as my teacher. Don't bother. I don't want to follow that darkness that consumes you.
The last time I checked, using a lightsaber wasn't relegated to the dark side of the force exclusively. I don't think training you to defend yourself will turn you into a Sith Lord.
Rey was skeptical.
Then why…?
She leveled her gaze at the enemy who'd managed to project himself to her.
Again, Ren sighed at quirked a brow at her, folding his arms again.
As I said, you need a teacher if you hope to defend yourself. And, I need a fair fight. The first time we fought your powers guided you enough to protect you. That wasn't skill. It was luck. You need more than that. Now, raise your weapon, but don't loosen your grip.
To his annoyance, the woman remained still, tawny orbs swirling with defiance, but indecision at the same time.
She was defying him.
And it would be her downfall.
I don't gain anything by helping you and until I figure out a way to separate this…connection between us, were sort of stuck together. Now, if you'll raise your weapon to the ready…
Of course, the girl ignored his command and turned away from her would-be instructor, though she did raise her weapon (to his satisfaction).
The girl, dug her heels into the ground and he watched the way she anchored her arms at the elbow, and tightened her grip on the hilt of the lightsaber, her shoulders tensing.
His gaze swept over the girl's form and though she'd taken to holding the hilt of the saber tighter than before, her movements were still unrefined and her stance was too accommodating to the enemy.
She wasn't utilizing her movements to her advantage.
All he'd have to do…
Without another thought, the man stalked towards the girl and swept his own foot across the ground, catching Rey's ankle and sending the girl off balance.
Her weapon dropped almost instantaneously as she stumbled, her body contorting awkwardly to try to regain purchase against being uprooted.
With a soft grunt, she whipped around and glared at the man who hadn't completely expected the maneuver to work (given they weren't really standing face to face).
Never mind that though, he'd been right.
He frowned at the girl, angling his own stance so that he towered over her. Peering down his nose at the perturbed would-be Jedi, he noted the way her own nose wrinkled in disdain the freckles thereon also smattering across the smoothness of her cheeks.
Her eyes glittered dangerously and he felt the pulsing power of the connection between them.
If you want a fair fight, you have to use every resource to your advantage. Don't let your enemy find a weak point like your stance. Keep every muscle contracted and controlled so that if someone were to level an assault on your positioning…
He tried to sweep his foot against her ankle again, but the girl was ready for him and side stepped easily.
Good.
He noted how she tried to take a step back, but he was far too invested in teaching her this lesson to allow her to back down now.
You want your arms to find a balance between one another, anchoring your weight so you can keep control of the force of your thrust. Your feet should mirror that anchoring. Space your legs far enough that you have a stiff resistance to the ground. It makes it harder for the opponent to knock you off balance.
Rey frowned at him.
I don't want your help. I don't need your help.
But he wasn't so easily swayed by her refusal. The same fire wasn't in her tone—even her internal one—and he could see the snatches of a memory floating, unbidden and unrestricted through their link.
She must not have realized.
He smirked.
"Luke used the same trick on me."
Rey felt the heat on her neck at Ren's admission and his offhanded smirk towards her.
Embarrassment gnawed at her senses even as a small smirk worked its way to her own lips at the thought that someone like Kylo Ren had been bested by a plant and an old Jedi with a very cross sense of humor.
To her thought, the Supreme Leader Snoke's right hand man nodded curtly and shook his head briefly.
Yes, even I can fall for a trick like that. Especially when it's…
He trailed off, catching her gaze briefly before focusing his attention again to her stance. He pursed his lips briefly before procuring his own saber and setting it ablaze.
Instantly Rey recoiled, bringing her own weapon up in defense.
What did he mean by—
Ren held a hand up to placate her.
I'm not going to attack you. Wouldn't do any good. I simply think that if you're going to train, you may as well do it correctly.
Rey didn't alter her defensive position as she eyed Kylo Ren warily, watching as he rolled his eyes before he shifted his own footing and tightened his ungloved hands around the hilt of his saber.
One leg pivoted horizontal to the man's body, the other went parallel. Rey noted how they seemed to match the width of his shoulders, sending a balanced image between his arms and his legs.
He nodded at her assessment.
Exactly. My arms and legs should strike an even image. I'll use both to my advantage. The arms—Here too he leveled his upper arms parallel to the ground, his forearms jutting swiftly upwards—The arms should be taut, firm, and tightly coiled. Consider them as springs waiting to launch, if you will. The force you hold in your arms should mirror the force of your grip. Now, try it.
Rey didn't move, flummoxed by the turn of events. Did he honestly think that she'd be complicit in this little…she didn't even know what to call it.
The girl lowered her saber hesitantly.
And Kylo Ren sighed in annoyance.
Alright then. Have it your way.
Without warning, the man advanced on the girl, his lightsaber level towards her throat.
Pulling her blade back up, Rey met with a powerful resistance as Ren's sizzling blade snapped against hers. Pressing his advantage in height and strength he bore down on the girl.
Fix your stance! Don't give your opponent the upper hand. Doesn't matter their size or strength. Use your resources. Your legs have power in them. Hold your position against me.
The admonishment echoed in the girl's head as Ren stared hard at her, pressing the blade of the saber more forcefully.
Anchor your arms and press hard against me. Do it or you'll lose the saber and my weapon will slice right through you.
At first she refused to listen, but flashes of that night on Starkiller wormed their way forward to her senses, and Rey felt her heart beat wildly in her chest, her panic rose as she recalled the unwavering fury in his eyes and the deep agitation he exuded.
Feed into those emotions. Tap into that force connection and let it enhance your strength and positioning. Don't hold back. It'll kill you. Now, concentrate!
Rey's fingers flexed momentarily as she tried to quell the growing push of power against her limbs and mind. There was the niggling sensation of inquiry, suspicion and curiosity that bit at her, demanding attention.
He was trying to pry into her mind.
With a deep frown and a low snarl, Rey pushed back, sucking in a deep breath and focusing on that rush of energy that seemed to wrap around every fiber of her being. She pushed at it, prodded the fire that seemed to burn in her and concentrated on how the tendrils of power wove their way from her chest and mind outward. Warmth seemed to spread down her neck, across her shoulders and towards her fingertips. Her chest blossomed with a growing familiarity and gentle cascading fire that fed into her legs and towards her toes.
It seeped from her form into the soil, into the air and into her lightsaber.
With another growl, Rey pushed back against Ren, willing that wellspring of warmth and bubbled inside her to feed into her movements.
Watch your form. Don't forsake technique for raw talent, however great it is.
With a derisive snort, Rey dug her heels into the ground and pivoted her left foot so it angled outward, keeping her other foot straight.
She let her knees bend lightly and squared her shoulders, tightening her grip on the base of the lightsaber's hilt.
She met Ren's gaze with her own and he watched her with narrowed brown orbs, his lips pull into a thin line.
Counter the weight of the hilt with the force of your blow. Remember the blade is lighter than the hilt. Balance them out.
He pushed hard this time, pulling his unstable blade back before pressing the large red blad agasint her blue one, baring his teeth as he did so.
His right leg shifted behind him as he arched his back lightly, tucking his shoulders closer to his body.
Pull back and adjust your stance, don't fall into the trap.
Rey didn't hesitate to pull her own blade back as Ren did the same. They struck together once more, this time Rey's widened her stance, placing her own leg angled lightly behind her and pressing her right leg forward, bent at the knee.
Again and again they pulled back and pressed together, Ren's height advantage forcing Rey to anchor her legs more firmly in the ground, angling her arms deeply as she pressed back, placing at much weight and effort into her blow as possible.
Now, pull back and parry.
The command seemed to catch the girl off guard for as he pulled back and maneuvered to the side and released one hand from the hilt of his lightsaber, she seemed to falter as he flicked his wrist and curved his blow upwards instead of down.
The saber went sailing from her grip and she nearly landed on her rear.
Her mouth was slightly agape, chest heaving from the exertion as she angled her body away from her opponent and towards her still singing blade.
"Parrying is different than a straight block. You have to mimic your enemy, try to match their footwork with your own, but remember that with one hand, the balance of the blade remains rather unsteady."
He swung his own blade in his hand, feeling the sharp metal spin carefully in his palm before, with a flourish, he angled the saber towards the ground.
He noted, with some satisfaction, that Rey's attention remained riveted to his movements. He could see the wheels turning in her head as she analyzed how he first loosened, but then quickly tightened his grip on the hilt before the weapon could spin from his person.
"You can't expect to keep the balance on the blade if you don't keep your grip sharp as well. Loosen it only long enough to get the movement you need. Keep a tight grip to facilitate that power."
Swiftly, he released the mechanism and silenced his blade, connecting it to his belt before stepping forward.
Rey was rooted to the spot, eyes wide as she observed his careful movements towards her.
He noted, somewhat derisively, that a drizzle of rain splattered about them.
The rain'll make your footholds harder to hold. Keep that in mind
He supplied the suggestion silently as he walked behind the girl and carefully grabbed her dominant wrist, where the saber whirred dangerously.
"What are you-?"
"Your arm is too stiff," He admonished, cutting her off, but not without noting how the girl went rigid when he'd approached, "You need to loosen your muscles, keep them warm and fluid in your movements. That's where you're speed will come from."
Carefully he bent her arm upwards at the elbow, bring her saber and wrist eyelevel while raising her elbow to just below the level of her shoulder.
"Keep this raised as well" He remarked, turning to her other hand, "Even if you don't have a weapon here, use your force to push against your enemy. The saber will only guide you so far. You have to use the power you've been gifted to press your advantage."
He lifted her hand, straightened her fingers and then stepped around the girl, admiring her stance and the way she'd naturally angled her knee to project forward, signaling where she intended to strike.
"Now, let's try again," He removed his lightsaber and ignited it as he stepped past the girl, shooting her a narrowed smirk, "Show me how you'd do it."
This time Rey didn't hesitate to plant her feet, mimicking Ren's own movements, as she shook her shoulders before raising her own lightsaber, allowing the hilt of the blade to swivel in her hand as she curved her arm upward. At he last moment, she brought the hilt into a firm grip and managed to connect her blade with his once more.
Inwardly she was pleased she'd managed to keep hold of her weapon, though she didn't have long to dwell on the fact.
He wasn't just practicing basic maneuvers this time. Instead they were sparring.
"Practice changing your footwork. Parry and then defend. Don't let your guard down."
This time he parried, swiveled and then spun his stance, catching Rey on the opposite side she was intended. She had little time to adjust and meet his blade in a defensive block before he pulled back and pressed his advantage again, striking downwards in an furious series of hacking attacks.
Rey met his blow, slipping momentarily on some of the rain soaked rocks beneath her feet. She quickly corrected her stance and ducked as Ren's lightsaber soared dangerously close to her. With an upward swing and then a hastily placed swivel, she met Ren's blade once, and then again on the opposite side.
It was her turn to press the advantage as she willed her arms to keep moving, spying when Ren changed his footing and attempted to catch her left side.
She met his blow with one of her own, but then thrust her leg forward, into the man's stomach before he could strike her again.
He was mildly impressed, and a little surprised when her blow sent him backwards.
She'd finally learned to use all her resources, it seemed.
He landed with a soft clatter against the ground—well the floor of his chambers anyway—and raised a hand in surrender to the girl who stood over him, lightsaber raised, chest heaving as water dribbled down her cheeks and chin.
Her eyes were alight, fingers taut against the weather blue saber's hilt as her hair remained matted to her face. She looked almost feral.
He could feel the power radiating from her.
"Good, but you'll need to keep practicing your footwork."
With a with thrust of his leg, he (once more) knocked the girl off her feet and sent her weapon soaring out of his vision.
Rey landed with a hard 'thud' the wind knocked from her lungs as rainwater splashed her face.
She reveled in the sensation of cool liquid splashing her face, easing the heat that seemed to radiate off her skin even as she felt the blossoming satisfaction of having made a little progress with her lightsaber prowess.
I take it they don't have rain on Jakku, eh Scavenger?
She looked towards Ren and frowned, searching the man's face for any malice.
There didn't seem to be any. Instead, the young man only seemed interested in studying her, eyes searching her face silently, thoughtfully. His hair was more disheveled than she'd ever seen and his usually pale cheeks seemed flushed from the exertion of their sparring lesson. Though, unlike her unsightly, sweaty face, Ren remained more neutral and calm, his breathing even.
It comes with practice, that calm you seek in your breathing. The more you work with your powers and your paces, the more comfortable you'll become in finding the natural rhythm for battle. Much more reliable than that dumb luck you employed last time.
Shocked out of her reverie, Rey hastily scrambled to her feet and sheathed her weapon at her belt. She peered up towards Ren's face, as he too rose slowly, flexing his fingers before straightening his stance.
"I told you that you needed a teacher."
"I'm not joining you," She snapped back warily, warring with herself and the joy she found bubbling in her chest at her progress.
There was another sensation there too, one pressing on her mind and she knew, that it was him and whatever this…this connection was.
"We'll see." He remarked lightly, almost carelessly, a smirk ghosting over his features.
"Until then, you'll have to work on your stance. Still a little weak."
The smirk stayed in place even as she lifted the small blaster she'd brought with her and aimed it at him, firing as he disappeared from her view.
Once more Kylo Ren was left with the dark, cold walls of his quarters, his thoughts swirling with images of their sparring match.
For a moment, he wondered if he'd dreamed it all, but the dampness on his shoulders and the droplets of water on his hand suggested otherwise.
'Interesting' he thought.
'Very interesting.'