A/N - Welcome back to the story!
The next few days passed in much the same way. Rey would stash her weapon under her mattress before cleaning herself. Afterwards, she would slip the piece of wood back under her arm wraps, reassured by the solid press of it against her flesh as she bided her time and awaited the right opportunity.
Kylo sat with her at breakfast every morning and then disappeared for a few hours during the day. In his absence Rey would wander around aimlessly, growing increasingly anxious and frustrated with her captivity. Around noon another heaping tray of food would be sent up, and she would eat it alone and miserable. Kylo would return, talk with her for a little bit, sit with her for dinner, and then retire to his room.
It was the loneliest Rey had ever been, and she had spent years on Jakku. But at least she had known she had the potential for social interaction, a chance at seeing her family again. Now, she knew she had very little hope of that, and that the rest of her days may very well consist of being trapped within these rooms.
It would only be a matter of time before she went crazy from it.
Rey meandered into the library again. She studied the walls of books, her gaze roaming over the thick leather bindings. She often found herself in this room, curious as to what the books contained within their covers, speculating about the information they held. She moved toward them unhurriedly and trailed her fingers over their spines. The leather was cool, smooth and unyielding beneath her fingertips.
She yearned to know what they said.
Oh, she knew a few words, not many, but enough to be able to decipher plans and most of a message, but even that was not enough to help her with these hard bound mysteries. She could make out most of the titles, but when she opened the covers she found that almost everything inside blurred into gibberish.
It frustrated her to have them so close by, mocking her inability to read and understand them fully.
She slipped one of the books free from the others. It was the one that fascinated her most for some reason, the one she repeatedly returned to. She opened it and leisurely flipped through the somewhat yellowed pages as she picked out the words she recognized.
Shaking her head, Rey released a low sigh as she closed the book and slid it back onto the shelf.
"Something against Jedi texts?"
Rey jumped and nearly shrieked as her head snapped up. She hadn't heard Kylo enter the apartment, but there he was, leaning against the doorway as he studied her. She swallowed heavily, not sure how he would react to finding her here, apparently holding a book about the Jedi that she couldn't read.
"Jedi texts?" She asked nervously.
He remained unmoving for a moment, his brow creased thoughtfully.
"Yes, Jedi texts. If you're worried about upsetting me, or seeking my permission, you have it," His tone softened. "I told you once that you needed a teacher. If you won't allow me to teach you, then at least you can continue to develop your skills with this text."
Rey's heart skipped a beat. She wanted nothing more than to improve her skills.
"You're not scared that I'll become stronger and escape?"
"Not in the slightest." He chuckled. Rey couldn't help but smile at the teasing tone in his voice. Though she was lonely and lost here, she found that his company was oddly comforting.
Probably because he was the only person that she had to talk to in this strange, uncertain world.
He moved away from the door and strolled toward her. Stopping beside her, his arm brushed against hers as he stretched around her to retrieve the book she had just replaced. Rey's heartbeat picked up, and her skin prickled and warmed at his nearness.
Curse her traitorous body.
She still didn't trust him, still despised the First Order, but he'd been nothing but pleasant to her over the past few days. The more time she spent here, the more fascinated she became by him. Perhaps Ben Solo was still alive after all?
She hated these feelings, but couldn't seem to shake them. She thought it must have something to do with the fact that she was trapped here and completely dependent on him.
She couldn't look at him as he broke the tension by pulling the book from the shelf and holding it out to her.
"I learned from this when I was younger. I think it will help you."
Rey swallowed heavily as she stared at the fascinating book. Her fingers trembled as she took it from him, unwilling to admit that she didn't know how to read. He already thought her ill-mannered, unkempt, and possibly a little backwards. She didn't want him to think that she was stupid too, because she most certainly wasn't.
"I'm sure it will." She muttered.
Kylo paused, reaching out slowly to touch her face. His finger was gentle beneath her chin as he nudged it upwards.
"Rey, do you know how to read?" Her gaze darted wildly around as she looked everywhere but at him. She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze as she tried to figure out how to answer. "Rey?"
She recognized the tone that tinged his voice when he was becoming aggravated with her. It didn't happen often, and not once since the interrogation room Starkiller Base had he become truly incensed by her. For the most part he was patient, considerate even, and she found herself liking him almost as much as she hated him for it.
Because she was certain that something bad was going to happen, and that he would turn on her. She was convinced that this strange kindness was just a charade to earn her trust before destroying her completely.
"A little," she finally admitted in a whisper. If he laughed at her, if he so much as smirked at her she swore she'd hit him, and damn the consequences.
To his credit though, he did neither of those things. Instead, he released his hold on her.
"We'll have to fix that. Come with me."
Rey stared after his retreating back before he disappeared from view. Fix it? What did that mean? She followed him back to the sitting room, but he didn't go to the sofa. Instead, he crossed to the seat by the bay window and settled upon it. Rey hesitated, uncertain what to do or say.
He raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not going to hurt you, Rey."
Displeasure filled her as she glared at him, not at all appreciative of his condescending words. She'd never backed down from a challenge before, and she wasn't about to start now. She threw her shoulders back and stalked toward him. His hand left the seat beside him, sliding away as she awkwardly settled in next to him.
Kylo considered her for a moment more before opening the book and placing it on their laps. Rey looked at the words, her discomfort growing as she stared at them. The words and letters swam before her on the page, blurring together before snapping back into focus; they still made no sense.
"It's okay," he assured her.
She turned toward him as trepidation trickled through her, The force of his stare seemed to burn straight into her soul. His hand wrapped smoothly around her wrist causing her to flinch as his touch seared into her skin. Her breath hitched in her chest. For a moment, she could only stare helplessly at him, confused by the strange sensations and emotions he aroused in her.
Why was he toying with her like this? Why was he being so kind when they both knew that in the end he would only destroy her?
She tried to tug her wrist away, and she saw the frustration he tried so desperately to hide from her flare up.
"It will be easier if you come a little closer," He muttered. "There is no need to be prideful."
Rey glared at him, but reluctantly moved closer until she was almost pressed against his side, her arm resting against his. His skin was cool to the touch, not as warm as hers, but not unpleasant either.
She shifted uncomfortably, all of a sudden realizing how intimate and downright cozy he was being with her. It was something she had never experienced before, and it was unnerving and exciting at the same time.
She had to forcefully remind herself that he was a monster, that he was toying with her, and that he was taking joy in her discomfort, even if he didn't appear to be.
Kylo settled the book more firmly between them. Rey found herself forgetting everything else as she drew her legs up beneath her and focused on the secrets hidden within those pages.
It didn't count as accepting his offer to teach her the ways of the Force by letting him teach her how to read… even if the book he was using to teach her to read was about the Force… right?
Unconsciously leaning against his side, she followed along as he leisurely began to read through the ancient text, pronouncing each word carefully as he urged her to sound out the words with him.
She was surprised by the smile on his face; it was rare to see such a thing on him. He was always somewhat reserved when he wasn't downright furious, but he seemed to be enjoying teaching her as much as she was enjoying learning. Rey took great pleasure in his smile, and interjected at times with the few words she knew.
She found herself smiling with him as he taught her to read with an endless patience she was troubled to realize she found endearing.
A/N - I know this one was a little short, but I wanted to keep it nice and light! I thought that idea of Kylo teaching Rey to read was just too cute to pass up on.
As always, please leave a review with your thoughts, suggestions, and predictions, and I'll see you in the next chapter!
~ Elizabeth (FanOfDeliciousFlavour)