Why do you wear a mask? Kylo asked in the late night.
Rey shifted in her bed, not quite awake but unable to sleep either. Why do YOU? she countered irately.
Kylo bit his lip in adamant silence, refusing to speak. Rey sighed. Having nothing better to do, she decided to answer Ren's question anyways. Or try to, anyway. She wasn't even sure if she knew the answer herself.
It makes me feel… she began, but faltered. Her heart was beating too fast. Why was her heart even beating? It should be dead, frozen, turned to stone at this point.
But still it kept on thundering in her chest, relentlessly, just like Kylo Ren's pathetic attempts to connect with her. But what Rey hated more was that it actually was working.
It's none of your business, she finally replied with a scowl.
… I want to know.
How she hated his voice. So abyssal, yet soft at the same time, as if it could break any moment— or break her.
Fuck you.
Language, Rey.
Shut up. Who do you take me for, a child?
Kylo Ren's mouth twisted into an almost-smile. Sometimes.
Rey scoffed out loud, her laughter echoing in the claustrophobic room.
Really? she said scornfully. If I'm a child, then so are you, Kylo.
And why is that? Kylo was obviously getting roped into another one of Rey's games, but he wasn't strong enough to resist this time. Kylo wasn't even sure if he wanted to.
You sulk, Rey began, counting a list off her fingers. You're naive. You get angry easily—
Not as much as you, Ren interrupted.
Rey paused for a moment, thinking over Kylo's words.
… Fine, she reluctantly conceded after a minute of glaring stubbornly into the wall. I get angry sometimes—
All the time.
Just shut up.
Kylo smirked victoriously. But Rey didn't miss a beat. But you are so, so much worse, Kylo Ren…
His smile darkened slightly. Indulge me.
You're so angsty… and you never leave people alone. Not to mention delusional and idealistic…
Can you stop?! he said half-jokingly.
Not after you've got me started so nicely…
Rey.
The scavenger felt her breath hitch in her throat. The sudden switch between humor and seriousness in Kylo's tone was unnerving, catching Rey completely off-guard and wordless.
… What? She managed to sputter
Kylo Ren swallowed audibly, running a finger over his scar. You've been acting strange lately… distant, almost.
Rey opened her mouth but nothing came out. Her voice was stolen.
… Why? Kylo whispered, asking a thousand questions with just one word. Rey didn't want to answer any of them but at the same time she simply couldn't help herself.
She sighed and rolled over to her side. She opened her eyes and found herself in another bed, in another room— Kylo's room. And his face was directly facing hers, merely a few inches away from touching (kissing) her. Rey's eyes met with his and the way Kylo stared at her it felt like she was the last person alive in the universe.
Who knows, maybe she was.
But then Rey blinked and she was back in her room again, alone and surrounded by strangling darkness. And Kylo was all but gone, save his echoing voice in her head.
Rey.
What is it? The scavenger rasped, despite knowing exactly what it was, what Kylo wanted from her. But talking distracted her from other things, so she kept on asking empty, meaningless questions.
You're hiding something. It was a simple statement on Ben's part, devoid of any questions or accusations. Just words, and nothing else. Empty, as they should be.
Rey nodded in the darkness, afraid to speak because her throat was so rimmed with broken glass and insecurities.
Talk to me, Rey, Kylo whispered, almost pleading. Almost.
Why should I? Rey questioned, her skin burning from anger and yet everything still felt so numb.
I can help you.
Rey shook her head violently against her pillow, Kylo's cold, empty face flickering before her. She closed her eyes and tried to make him disappear, like a five year old wishing on stars. But there were no stars in Rey's sky— just darkness.
You have no right, she spat venomously. No right at all. So stop pulling this "helping" bullshit on me!
I'm not.
Rey gave a sharp, mocking laugh. Liar, she spat. You're a liar, Ben.
Kylo nodded in silent agreement because it was true; he was a liar. But then again, who wasn't?
I don't need your help, Rey hissed, her tone hushed and her mouth twisted into a hardened frown. The grimace hurt her lips but she didn't care.
Kylo smiled softly in the shadows.
I can save myself, Rey said, speaking the truth in a world of lies.
I know, Kylo said in that achingly soft, almost broken voice of his. But can you save me?
Rey closed her eyes but didn't sleep.
You have to find something to fight for, Kylo Ren's voice echoed inside Rey's mind,
I have nothing.
Just think of something that makes you happy, then.
Easier said than done, Rey murmured, but tried anyways.
At first, all she saw was darkness; a void. Then it began to change form, distort in shape, like the altering seasons. Like the end of a cold, lifeless winter.
Rey was now standing by the ocean, her feet bare and the water tickling her toes. The wind blew and the waves crashed to shore, over and over again, never stopping, never ending. Immortal.
You really like the ocean, don't you? Kylo's voice thundered in Rey's mind. Her eyes snapped open and in an instant that beautiful ocean was gone. Once again, Rey was met with darkness. Only this time, it was her room.
Rey hugged her knees and flopped back down on her bed, not having realized that she'd sat up in the first place. Tentatively, Rey placed a hand on the pillow beside her.
She could almost feel Ben's warmth radiate off her skin, hear his uneven breathing beside her.
Rey turned to the side, and for a moment she saw a pair of dark, glassy eyes staring back at her. Then she blinked and they were gone. But the voice that belonged to them wasn't.
Rey…
Tell me, Ben, Rey began, her voice dropping to a whisper, What do you fight for?
There was a silence. For a moment, Kylo Ren stopped breathing, his heart stopped beating. Time was still.
I don't know… Ben finally stammered in that achingly soft, confused voice of his.
Then why do you? Rey whispered.
Only silence followed.