One more, shorter chapter before bed
There won't be much happening in this one, 9 and 10 are really just a view into how the characters currently find themselves behaving together behind closed doors, they're due to develop shortly!
(Unless otherwise stated, all chapters are seen from Jay's POV)
They continued to eat in silence
While she was quietly disappointed at his announcement that his violent and explosive tendencies would never change, she couldn't blame him for it. He was too immersed in the dark ways of his power, she knew that, there would be no moment of epiphany that befell him, and she needed to accept that. It was his nature now, but the promise that he would never bring out that side to harm her, that was a surprise.
She had never expected him to be so ... 'kind' was the wrong word, it wasn't that, he was just trying so hard to be good to her. In all honesty, she had expected to be ignored, paraded at the correct times, and blindly mistreated by him just because of who he was.
She could never have been more wrong.
She watched him eat as she sipped her wine, his hair falling to cover his face when he leaned down to take a mouthful. As he sat up each time he would flick it out of his eyes with a small movement of his head to the side. She found it quite endearing.
After a short while spent in semi-awkward silence she spoke
"I know that took a lot. Thank you
He stopped mid-chew and his eyes flicked upwards for a second
"You're welcome"
Silence again
Not wanting to spend the rest of the evening this way, she changed the subject
"I know that you assigned Chamberlain to me as a cure for my restlessness, and I really am grateful, she's been a great help today, but there's not that much more for me to do in regard to planning the day."
She concentrated her gaze firmly on her food as he turned to watch her speak
"I wondered if I could come with you one day before the ceremony, have a look around the ship and get to know the kind of work you do when you're not chasing rebel ships all day. I won't interfere or interject, I'd just like to see the day-to-day running of the place"
He stayed silent for longer than she would have liked, pondering her words, she could practically hear the cogs turning inside his head. She already knew that the answer was 'no'. After a long interlude he answered her.
"If you like"
She looked up in surprise and found him smirking roguishly at her
"I'll mostly be training while we remain in this sector, there isn't too much to do while we wait, but I can show you more interesting areas on board to settle your curious mind"
She smiled gratefully, the fact that he was willing to entertain her for the day was either due to his genuine wish to get to know her or a strategy to keep her settled for a few days after, either way she was happy.
"I'm happy to watch you train, I never bothered with athleticism much at home, it never really served me a purpose"
He nodded slowly, considering his next offer
"I could teach you some techniques?"
His question was happily received, and she nodded enthusiastically
"Alright" he said, "I can't imagine when it might come in handy but I suppose you should always know how to fight if you ever needed to... not that you ever would" he finished quickly
She wasn't so sure, she knew of the dangerous life one led if they resided highly enough within the Order, and although she wouldn't be fighting on the front line, there was always the possibility of confrontation. She discarded the thought for the moment and refocused on him, not responding to his closing affirmation of her safety
"So, what other areas on board would you consider interesting enough to warrant a tour?" She asked with humour embedded within it, she wasn't expecting many 'fun' or recreational areas on board.
He considered her question and replied "I won't disillusion you, this ship is a military fortress with engines, I can show you areas that are quite mechanically interesting, take you inside one of our fighters, show you our engines and, if you're interested, perhaps a view from the bridge, but I can't say that you'll find any of it entertaining"
She nodded, "I'd like to anyway", and he went back to his meal
They finished in a much more comfortable silence, and he piled their plates when they were empty, finishing his wine in one mouthful and standing.
She followed suit and went with him as he made his way to the entry doors. He turned back to her and began his farewell
"Well, thank you for an enjoyable evening, it was certainly better than sitting in the silence of my quarters for the night. I hope you'll be happy to receive me every night"
Her eyes widened and colour rushed to her cheeks, Kylo realised what assumption could have been made from his statement and stuttered, trying to form an apology. He was cut short as Jay let out an uncontrollable breath of laughter and threw her head back as she exploded into a fit of giggles.
He sighed with relief and grinned sheepishly at her
"My apologies"
She wiped her eyes as the laughter subsided and shook her head.
"No, it's my fault, I'm afraid that my childish side came out to play for a moment though, and I can't apologise for it"
She continued to smile at him as she spoke, her eyes dancing with light, the first time she had flt genuine happiness since she was brought aboard.
He pressed his fingertips to the control panel beside him and stepped through the arched doorway
"Goodnight then, Jay"
Before he had the chance to walk away from her Jay gathered her boldness and grasped his upper arm and leaned forwards to him, lightly pressing her lips to his cheek. As she withdrew she noted, with silent amusement, the look of bewilderment on his face before she spoke up
"Goodnight, Kylo"
She stepped back and the doors closed between them before he had turned away, he was still standing, shell shocked.
Making a beeline for her glass of wine, blaming it for her daring action, she brought it with her as she made her way to her bed, sitting on the edge and finishing her glass. Not bothering to change, she climbed under her covers and sunk into the softness beneath her.
She lay there for a while, eyes closed, thinking happily of what could be if she and Kylo carried on own their current path. He was much more open to her than anyone would have every believed, and though it was still slow-moving, it was, importantly, moving.
She drifted into a peaceful sleep, looking forward to the day ahead, for once.
KYLO POV
Her laugh
The first laugh he had heard in a long time
The first laugh she had expressed in his presence.
It was mesmerising.
The way her eyes had filled with such merriment as she wrapped both arms around her stomach and tried, in vain, to control herself.
The way she needed to wipe the tears of joy from the corner of each eye as she calmed herself.
The genuine, happy smile that painted her face afterwards.
He had never seen anyone more beautiful than her in that moment.
The memory of the subtle warmth of her breath against his skin as she gently pecked his cheek forced a rush of blood and heat up the length of his neck, and he took a deep breath before settling back against his pillows.
He slept, contented and peacefully, he would make her laugh and smile like that again, continuously, for as long as they had together.
