AN: This is literally my first story in close to 6 years. I have other stories I haven't touched since then but I recently saw TLJ and I was so entranced by the tension and magnetism between Kylo and Rey that I felt the need to write something for them. I have since had ideas for at least three different stories for these two but I don't want to get too deep into a bunch of different things at once while easing back into this. So, if reception is good I will start the other stories once I am confident enough with this. I also have a 2-year-old so there's that lol
It started like any other day, as cliché as that sounds, it did.
"This place is packed."
The observation was not a wrong one.
The building that housed the adoption shop wasn't very big to begin with but with this many people packed inside it was even more claustrophobic.
I hate this so much
Rey couldn't take two steps on either side of her without bumping into some old lady cooing over a small animal.
Stupid Finn and his stupid puppy dog eyes making her come here with him to find a pet.
According to him the shop was having a sale to promote adoptions since it was so close to the holidays and people were looking to take advantage to adopt the abandoned pets. Rey thought it was a noble and wonderful cause but she absolutely hated what leaving her comfy apartment in the dead of winter entailed.
Only her love of Finn and Poe would be enough to force her into this maelstrom.
"Oh Rey, lets go get a pet to commemorate my new place with Poe. It'll be fun. It will only take a minute. I'll know what I want as soon as I see it. Blah, blah, blah."
"You look like you're enjoying yourself?"
The amused voice breathed into Rey's ear hot and tingly. If one were to force Rey to relive the moment she definitely wouldn't recount the squeak and jump the surprise drew from her, but that wouldn't mean it didn't happen.
Rey cleared her throat and straightened herself looking up into what was clearly the giant from Jack and the Bean Stalk standing to the side of her. She couldn't help but sneer at the wide berth he seemed to be getting while she was getting knocked around like a pinball.
Rey couldn't help the thought that manifested with a secret grin at the large man.
Apparently, size does mean something
Maybe it was the fact that this guy had managed to sneak up on her especially with his clearly inhuman size, she hadn't managed to hear or sense him, but she felt that he did this a lot.
"Yeah, having a ball. Just, the greatest time of my life. The stench of White Diamonds and cat urine is my idea of the ultimate aphrodisiac."
She could tell right away that he was one of those annoying guys who thought that her sarcasm was, "cute".
"Well, then you are definitely in the right place Rey."
Rey just raised her eyebrow, "How do you know my name?"
This garnered an eyebrow raise and a small grin from him, "I had to assume you are the Rey you were speaking about in your dialogue or maybe you are Poe?"
Ahhh
"No, I am Rey, sorry, I know I am being a bit taciturn, but I am really uncomfortable in such crowded places. They make me a bit cranky, and the fact that I didn't want to come in the first place doesn't help my disposition."
Taking an actual glance at the guy who had straight up ghost appeared behind her she could see more than just the size of him. He had dark black hair that grazed the top of his shoulders and deep blue eyes with brown flecks through them. He was wearing a black sweater with a pair of black jeans, and even his sneakers were black.
"Let me guess, your favorite color is black?"
He only shook his head, hair moving around his head lightly with a smirk on his very full lips.
"Favorite movie is Dracula?"
Another head shake but this time it had a huff of breath she had to assume was a laugh at her ridiculousness, and he pointed to his name tag which she hadn't seen while she was ogling his sweater.
"Kylo? What kind of name is that?"
The furrow of his brow was enough to let her know that the amused question had insulted him.
Jeez touchy much, better smooth it over
"It's a good name. Strong, and it's very unique."
That's it Rey talk to the cute giant like a normal human
Rey could tell this was the correct response by the small red blossoms on his cheeks.
"That's the point."
Just from the exchange she could tell that this was most definitely not his real name and that this was most likely a nickname or something. Well, far be it for her to rag on someone else for their name choices. She was pretty sure "Rey" wasn't her real name either only she hadn't chosen hers.
His real name was probably something super embarrassing like Ernest, and just the thought of this adorable giant being named Ernest made her grin.
Rey didn't know what he must have thought of her sudden amicability towards him because he took a step closer into her personal space and raised his hand. Rey was startled and for a second was frozen at the thought of this stranger touching her for some reason, when, "Hey Rey!"
Oh, you are so forgiven Finn I love you
"I've been looking everywhere for you."
Finn gave a glance at the scene he had walked up on and raised an eyebrow at Rey. She only shook her head to indicate they would talk about it later.
Kylo's hand faltered at the presence of Finn and returned to his side. Rey could tell he was frustrated by the not so subtle clenching of his jaw, but he just stood there.
It was awkward.
Thankfully some lady had noticed that an employee was standing right behind her and asked Kylo for some help getting a giant bag of dog food that was on sale down from a shelf drawing his attention away from Rey and Finn.
They both breathed a sigh of relief at the change in the intense mans attention and slowly drifted away. Rey hated being this rude even when he had been weird but she had a feeling that standoff would have never ended if they hadn't.
"What was that about Rey? Was he bothering you?"
"No, he wasn't bothering me but it was a bit weird. He showed up out of nowhere and we were talking, somewhat, and then you showed up."
Rey knew she was downplaying the charged interaction a bit but she also didn't want her friend to worry over nothing and that was Finn's specialty especially when it came to her.
"He was probably just trying to get me to buy something or a pet."
"Ok Rey if you say so."
Skeptical thy name is Finn
Rey couldn't help smiling at her friend and his worry over her.
"I'm glad you're getting this pet because now maybe you'll stop worrying about me all the time big worrywart."
"Never happen sweet cheeks, I'll just have another set of ears aside from Poe's to complain to as you keep trying to give me my first grey hair."
Thankfully the building was slowly but surely filtering out all the people by the time they reached where the adorable kittens cubicle had been so they managed to reach it without too much trouble.
A man in a wrap sweater and what Rey believed were lounge pants was standing near the set of cubes housing the kittens. Rey took stock of the older gentleman. He had longer grey hair and a full mountain man beard and moustache, also greying.
He had kind eyes and was leaning on a cane slightly.
"Hey Luke."
Finn called to the older man. Rey noticed his name tag was in the same style and placement that Kylo's had been indicating he worked there, though unlike Kylo's this one had a title underneath "Manager/Owner".
"I asked him to stay near the kitten I was looking at since I was so sure I wanted her and didn't want her to get snatched up."
Rey nodded in understanding as Finn answered her unasked question about why the Manager was waiting for them.
"Finn, and this must be THE Rey I have heard so much about?"
"Uhhh, hey?"
Rey looked at Finn.
"Right, well for part of one of my animal health and care course I worked here examining the animals that were brought in. I happened to talk about you a few times while I was here."
"A few times? He wouldn't shut up about "Rey this" and "Rey that". It was hilarious."
Luke's face lit up at the humorous recollection and Finn's blushing at being caught gushing over his friend that Rey couldn't help but grin at the banter.
With the awkward tension dissipated the interaction between the three flowed smoothly with humorous recollections and stories between Luke and Finn. Rey watched Luke get the kitten, an adorable tortoise shell with the cutest thumbs, because of course Finn would pick something unique.
When she 'mew'-ed at Finn and she could see why he was so smitten with the kitten.
Luke and Finn walked off to get the paperwork finished and to get some supplies for the new addition to Poe and Finn's household ready.
Rey waited behind and was playing through the glass with one of the pups in the bottom cubicle when the instinct that had kept her alive through her hardships told her danger was nearby.
Her body itself was cold but there was a source of immense heat radiating behind her.
Like a droplet of rain languidly making its way down a pane of glass she stood up and made sure to just as slowly turn around, certain that if she moved too fast something bad might happen. Holding her breath at the thought of who was behind her because she already knew who it was. Even though they had just met and barely made acquaintance no one had ever made her feel as warm and as unsafe as this individual did.
She was just shocked that he had approached her again after she had very clearly snuck off with Finn.
But there he was again, Kylo the giant.
Just standing way too close behind her.
She took a step back instinctively to giver her some room to breathe but she could tell by the way he tensed up that he was planning on closing that space again.
"Oh"
Rey turned her head a little too fast and felt her neck strain uncomfortably.
That's going to suck to deal with tonight
"I see you met my nephew, Kylo."
Rey just looked back and forth between the calm and steady in the middle of a storm Luke and the living version of a not so dormant volcano Kylo.
Luke looked a little ashen as he eyed Kylo across from her, nothing like his previous mirth remained in this moment and it made Rey wish to have it back. She glanced up to Kylo to see what he made of the scenario but he was glaring something fierce at the older man, and if his eyes could shoot lasers there would be a pile of dust where Luke stood.
"Nephew?"
Luke spoke to Kylo like he hadn't heard her question.
"Kylo, there is some stock that needs to be sorted in the back still. Why don't you do that and then you can head home. I will close tonight."
It was said with such authority that even Rey had no chance of taking the statements as anything other than an order.
Sparks flew between the two making Rey feel very uncomfortable. She had never really been good around family dynamics good or bad.
She started shifting from foot to foot drawing Kylo's attention away from his 'uncle' and reached forward like a snake strike. She had clasped her hands in front of her as she was wont to do when uncomfortable. He grabbed her right hand and shoved his larger hand into it.
It almost looked like he was shaking her hand but she knew it was more than that by the piece of paper she could feel slip between their hands.
She barely had time to register the contact of his scalding hand in hers before he fisted his hand around hers to seemingly hide the scrap from Luke who was clearly holding his breath tightly.
"Nice to have met you Rey. Hopefully we will meet again."
For as tightly wound as he was Luke only seemed to come back into himself as Kylo let her go.
"Yeah."
That was all she managed to squeak out before with a swish he turned around on the ball of his foot dramatically and stomped to the back of the store slamming a door that said "Employees Only".
As she rubbed the piece of paper between her fingers she could feel Luke's gaze flickering back and forth between her and Kylo furtively.
She could only think,
Get that man a cape
AN: I am open to all suggestions. I have a tentative area I am planning on this going and I plan on it being very thriller and dark but if you all have something you would like to see I am open to opinions. It doesn't mean I will take everything you say but you never know. Please review and subscribe if you like it, I do plan on getting through a few more chapters especially depending on reader reactions. Thanks for reading love you all!