They floated in the water in a deep embrace for what felt like hours. Tears were flowing down Rey's face, as she tried to soak up all his pain, even if she knew there was too much that has happened and nobody could ever relieve him from the things he had seen and done.
Kylo Ren was just stiff, letting her hold him the whole time. But after a minute or two, he at least put his right hand on her hip and let his thumb draw small circles on her skin.
When her crying stopped, she slowly pulled herself away from him, still holding both arms around his neck. They watched each other, their glances silently communicating an understanding of their connection.
Her hands wandered to his cheeks, now cupping his face on both sides, she pulled his head closer to hers, not kissing him, but putting their foreheads against each other,
like he did before to her.
"I am so sorry. I believe you. I can feel your pain." she whispered directly into his ear, as her lips brushed his skin where she talked. This sent shivers down his body and he embraced her even more.
They stayed like this for a couple of seconds, then he slowly started to push her away with both hands. She let him and he just stated drily, that they have to go back now before it's getting dark in some hours. She nodded and swam to the shore, pulling on her clothes again. He did the same, but flinched for a second when she took both sabers out of his helmet. She inspected his sword for a short time and just when he opened his mouth to say something, she let it flew over to him, where it safely landed in his palm. She gave him a small grin and picked up his helmet, walking over and putting it in his other hand.
"So after I feel refreshed, we still need to have some kind of transportation. I'd take these bantha's here, but they are wild and not trained to be ridden.
So I guess it won't work." she stated, finger pointing over to the sleeping bantha herd.
"We can change that." Kylo said, walking with big steps in their direction. He pulled up his right arm and aimed it at one of the banthas. She called out: "Don't hurt them!" but she felt no anger in him, so she guessed he wouldn't hurt them anyway. The bantha to whom he pointed his hand, suddenly stood up from his sleeping position and kneeled down in front of Kylo Ren, waiting patiently for him to mount the beast.
Rey was amazed by this. Of course you can use mind tricks on animals too! I didn't know this would work.
She thought and was happy again to have Kylo with her, who already was so experienced in the ways of the force.
They both climbed onto the bantha and it started to stomp through the forest with them on their backs. When she grabbed Kylo's sides this time, to hold onto him while they rode the big mammal, he didn't flinch as he did on the speeder and she wasn't disgusted but more so over at ease when she touched him.
It took an hour to for them to reach the desert again and several more hours to reach the ship. The sun was burning down on their skin, drying their clothes fast and Kylo pulled off and his cape and threw it over both their heads to avoid the sun. For some reason, it kept them cool, even if its colour was black and should normally work like a magnet to the sun. They sat really close together in their small tentlike space and watched each other. Rey's heart was beating like crazy for some reason as he watched her.
Whilst being carried on the banthas back, they talked about everything which came into their mind. For example how Kylo not already has died from heatstroke wearing all black in the desert.
Funnily he explained her the exact technique which was used in the fabrics for his whole outfit, which was surprisingly made with high technology, to always keep him at the right temperature never minding the weather.
She told him some things from Jakku and how much this planet reminded her of it. Also some stories about how she earned money from scavenging and how she learned to defend herself from robbers. She told him how she crashed and what the creatures did to her, but avoided to tell him, where she was planning to go with her ship originally.
Kylo Ren listened to her and sometimes commented it, or told her some non-vital information about himself or the First Order.
Like, that they serve spinach twice a month in the cantina and that's always the day, where he doesn't eat anything, except for the chocolate bars he specifically treasures for this day.
She had to laugh at this, holding her belly and nearly rolled off the bantha, tears gathering in her eyes. Something between their connection to each other has changed since he showed her the visions in the pond. He talked more freely and she couldn't feel too much anger radiating from him anymore.
She liked that side of him a lot and wished him to stay at peace like this forever. But she knew it just needs one drop, one small event, to pull him back into the darkness, driving him insane with pain, destroying everything around him. So she just enjoyed the hours of peaceful talking and was thankful for his trust in her.
When they reached the ship, it was already starting to get dark. Luckily this time nothing from the TIE fighter seemed to be stolen and it looked like, they could try starting it right now. Which gave Rey chills, because last time they were here, he said, he wanted to take her to the First Order.
Kylo and Rey jumped down from the bantha and he put a hand to its head. It instantly turned around and started to run into the direction they came from. "What did you do?" she asked. "I showed it the way back to his herd and ordered it to go there." he answered.
"That's surprisingly kind of you." she grinned.
She entered the ship and searched for the water bottles. When she found them, she gulped down a lot and also ate some fruits they picked up before they were kidnapped, which still laid in a small container on the floor.
Kylo sat on the sofa and also took a fruit in his hands, silently chewing on it. After he was nearly done, he smashed it on the table.
Rey was startled by it and nearly dropped her apple from the noise. "What is it?" she asked confused.
"I thought about what you said to me, the last time we were here. You told me you would rather die, than going back to the First Order.
I want to propose a deal." he pressed out between gritted teeth, his eyes boring into hers.
"Oooookay. So. Out with it!" she asked seemingly surprised by the offer, still nibbling on her apple.
He started to draw circles with his fingers on the table in front of him, watching them like it was the most interesting thing he has ever seen.
Does he always do that when he is nervous? I have to observe that better. He had done it at the pond too. She told herself.
"I know you wanted to go to Luke Skywalker with your ship, before your crash. I need to meet him. As a matter of fact, at first, I wanted to take you back to the First Order to rip the map out of your mind. But...we don't have to do it like that. We could just go there together and meet the Jedi."
Now he finally looked up from his fingers, the nervous circling also came to an abrupt stop on the table.
He searched for an answer in her eyes, waiting for her to reply.
"You must be crazy, if you think, I would lead you to Luke!" she screamed and jumped up. "I know, that Snoke forced you to kill others.
But I won't let you kill Luke! This offer of yours, I can not agree with it!"
"I will not kill Skywalker. Maybe in self-defence, if he decides to attack me. But I do not seek him out, to kill him." he stated.
"First: I don't believe you. And second: What else would you want there?" she asked trying to push her mind into his head.
"I can not tell what I seek from him. But it's whether his death nor do I want to inflict pain on him or anything else what would affect him negatively.
I will allow you to search my mind if you don't believe my words."
She felt him opening up to her and she instantly dived into his head, searching for any clue about him lying, or Snoke controlling his plan, whatever it was. She didn't find any anger or intend to kill the Jedi, but also didn't find out why he wanted to see his old master because he intentionally blocked this part from her.
She sat down again and pondered a moment about it, turning her half-eaten apple around in her hand, thinking about every possible outcome for this situation. Finally, she made up her mind and looked over at him, where he patiently waited for her answer.
"I will allow you to fly with me to Luke Skywalker. If I ever see you raise your hand against him or so much as to think of hurting him, I will kill you without hesitation."
He just nodded and opened their bond again, to send her a silent "Thank you." as an agreement to their deal.