"You're a scoundrel. You know that? A scruffy headed scoundrel." She said, arms crossed, as she watched him run a comb through his damp hair.
He stopped in his tracks, and looked her dead in the eyes.
"Scoundrel?" he inched closer "Scoundrel? I hardly think I am that. Anyone would be angry if someone hit them in the face," he said.
He was inches from her face now, "No." she said. "I am not talking about that. I'm talking about your behavior the morning after we….we…"
He interjected then, knowing what she was about to say, "We have already discussed this, why are you speaking of it again?"
"Because," she informed him. "You've clearly been acting strange since it happened. Even after I told you to focus, and forget about it, you've been trying your best not to look at me, or even touch me in any way, even when we are training. It's like, it's like you're trying to hide something."
He was nervous now, "Well, why don't you just read my mind and find out exactly how I'm feeling?"
"Because I want to hear you say it" she said to him softly.
He looked at her now, wet hair, eyes widened, lips pursed, he was about to say something, but something inside him stopped him. "Just tell me, please." she requested.
He ran his fingers through his damp, raven hair then, and grabbed his light saber hilt. "We must begin your training immediately; it's beginning to grow dark." He then walked right past her, and looked straight ahead as he did so.
General Hux was in his chambers, anxiously waiting to hear word from Captain Phasma that a ship has been prepared for him. He began to grow more and more annoyed and impatient as the minutes passed by. He rose out of his chair then and began pacing the room until a hologram appeared before him.
"General, I have prepared a ship for you as requested. I have also prepared my strongest fleet of troops to assist in your mission to retrieve Ren and the girl. I am in sector 998-4 as we speak; meet me here when you are ready to depart."
"Excellent," he told the Captain as an evil grin appeared on his face.
"Do you know by chance where Ren and the girl are General?" she asked the man.
"No, but I have a strong inkling he is somewhere that has some sort of significance to him, somewhere where he thinks he is safe. I have a few ideas. I shall meet you momentarily Captain."
Captain Phasma nodded, and the hologram vanished before his eyes. Hux then entered the code to leave his quarters, and stalked through the hallway to the ship.
It took approximately an hour for Kylo Ren and Rey to reach the cave in which they would be training. It was on the highest mountain on Takodana, and Rey began to shrug and sigh in frustration as they finally reached their destination.
"Are you going to tell me why we couldn't train down there, why we had to climb this stupid mountain just to train in this secluded cave?"
Kylo Ren looked at her now, more annoyed than ever, "And you say I am the one who whines a lot." he shrugged.
"At least I don't throw temper tantrums," she snapped back.
"Like I said before, do not test me, unless you wish to see another one of my 'tantrums'," he spat back at her.
Rey stood back then, and found the way his nostrils flared to be amusing. "So what does this cave have to offer? Other than rocks and dirt?" she inquired.
Kylo Ren sat down on a nearby rock, and took out his canteen of water, "Well," he said mid gulp. "For one thing, it is secluded, like you just mentioned. Also, it is essential for you train in different environments."
Rey thought of asking him the importance of that, but to be honest, she did not really care, all she wanted at that moment was water. She grabbed her own canteen of water out of her bag, and proceeded to take in four large gulps. Kylo Ren watched in fascination as he watched her throat move up and down. "How long are we to train today? It's really starting to get dark now." she asked as she wiped the water from her lips.
He took another gulp of water, "Two, three hours."
"And what happens if it's too dark to return the ship?" she asked.
"Then the same rules apply, one shall keep watch while the other sleeps inside. I kept watch last night, so it appears it is now your turn."Now," he continued. "I am going to go change into my clothing that is more suited for this weather; I suggest you go do the same."
Rey nodded in agreement, and watched as he walked towards the cave. She then pulled out the clothing she had packed in her bag. She pulled out a short sleeve black t-shirt, along with black leggings that cut off at her knees.
Due to Kylo Ren changing within the cave, Rey did not have many options as to where to undress herself. She then proceeded to strip off her long sleeve robes, and her leggings that reached her ankles while standing there, out in the open, back faced to the entrance of the cave. She stripped off her leggings first, now clinging to her body as a result of her sweating, and put on her thinner, shorter ones. She then proceeded to remove her black robes, and her tunic. As she did so, Kylo Ren emerged from the cave, now dressed in a simple black t-shirt, and black pants. He was shocked to see Rey there, bare backed standing before him. He felt somewhat guilty for looking, but he couldn't make himself look away.
She was so beautiful. Her skin, smooth, and glowing in the orange glow of the sunset. He felt a familiar desire then, he wanted her, again. He wanted her just like he did the night she kissed him for the first time. The night they fulfilled their desire for one another. He realized then he should tell her, show her, why he has been acting so strange. She turned around then, fully dressed, and gave him a curious look.
"How long have you been standing there?!" she asked.
"Not long," he blushed. "Come, we shall begin your training."
"Your fleet is most impressive, Captain" Hux said as he admired the crowd of storm troopers aligned before him. Phasma felt strange, it was rare General Hux ever gave compliments. "I have gathered my best Stormtroopers for your mission, General. If the girl or Ren attempt to run, they shall be outnumbered greatly."
Hux looked very pleased with himself. "Ren is strong, that is certain, but let us see just how strong when we take away his precious scavenger."He then began to walk up the track to the ship, with Captain Phasma not far behind.
Their training was similar to that of which they did aboard his ship, the only differences were the rocks, and a noticeably larger space.
"Good, good" he said as he watched Rey levitate and throw a rather large boulder onto the wall of the cave.
She sat down then, and wiped the sweat off of her forehead, and took a large drink out of her canteen. "Well, it looks like we will be staying here tonight," he said as he looked out into the darkness before him. "Great, I love sleeping on rocks." she scoffed.
"You are to keep watch, remember?" he informed her. "And stop your whining, or I'll make you stop." She cocked an eyebrow up at him, "And how would you do that may I ask?"
He smirked back at her, "Believe me, I have my ways." She wondered then exactly what he meant by that. He yawned then, "I am very tired, I suggest you go keep watch now as I have instructed you." He informed her. She grabbed her saberstaff then, and proceeded to walk outside of the cave, "And what happens if I were to encounter, erm…any visitors?" Kylo Ren looked up at her, a slight worry in his eyes, "Kill them, of course. Unless you wish to be killed yourself."
She looked at him, trying to hide her fear as he said those words, and walked out of the cave.
"Are you for certain they are on Takodana, General? The planet has been deserted since the First Order raided it last year."
"Of course I am certain, woman," Hux spat. "There's no one there to recognize him, to recognize her. It is the place of their first encounter, so it is no surprise that is where Ren chose to hide his little toy."
Phasma scowled at the man beneath her helmet.
"Alright General, I trust your judgment, if you say that Ren is on Takodana, we shall go search it at once."
Hux said nothing, for he knew he was right.
The rock which Rey had propped herself up against was extremely uncomfortable, but to her surprise, it was more comfortable than her bed upon Kylo Ren's ship. She was so tired, more tired than she had ever felt. She struggled desperately to keep her eyes open, to stay alert on the danger that may lie ahead, but a las, she drifted off to sleep. She thought then of the man inside the cave, now asleep himself. She wondered what he was thinking, how he was feeling. Through their force bond, she could somewhat feel his emotions. He was afraid of losing something, but what? Rey opened her eyes at once, startled by the man that stood before her.
"Come inside," Kylo Ren said, shirtless and sleepy eyed.
She gave him a confused look, "But I thought you said I should watch that I should be alert that…."
"I know what I said, just please, for once, don't question, or argue with me. Come inside."
He sounded so calm to her at that moment
"Oh alright," she said softly. She rose to her feet, and entered the cave. She threw her saber staff down, and noticed that he had made a mallet out of blankets.
"Do you have extra blankets? I'd rather not sleep on this nasty ground." He smiled at her, more genuinely than she had ever seen, "I was kind of hoping you would sleep in the mallet I made…with me."
She gave him a curious look, "But you said-"
"Please." he was practically begging her.
"Alright." She said softly.
She watched him then as he crawled into the mallet, and then proceeded to do the same. She felt so comfortable at that moment, and it had nothing to do with the blankets. To her surprise, he wrapped his rather large arm around her.
"Is this…okay?" he asked shyly. Rey felt a smile grow upon her face, "Yes…yes, it's fine."
As she felt the warmth of his body next to her, she felt more safe, more, alive, than she had ever felt in her life, and they both drifted fast asleep.
