This chapter is dedicated to Howling2themoon, thanks for your review!
The halls of the Resistance base were all but empty, save the occasional patrolling guard or whirring droid. Fortunately for a particular force-sensitive, this section of the base was barely used, despite the computing panels having direct links to the Resistance's mainframe.
That must have been the reason why on this night, Luke Skywalker had sent R2-D2 to covertly access Resistance information - without General Organa's knowledge.
Luke and Artoo had been through many battles and missions together and he could trust the droid with his very life, which - to the Jedi's dismay – was often put to the test.
However, as reliable a droid as R2-D2 was, its only fault was its inability to shoo away the ever-persistent C-3PO.
"Have you got the information yet? These dark halls are setting my wires on edge! Oh maker!" C-3PO babbled to his counterpart, receiving two annoyed beeps in return. The smaller R2 droid twisted its appendage within a computing panel.
"Well you should hurry up Artoo! Master Luke and Padawan Rey will be leaving soon and I dare say I can't expect them to wait up for an incompetent droid such as yourself!" C-3PO's gold exterior reflected the dim light in multiple directions as he waved his arms about, tuttering. "Oh, it's such a shame they have to leave. Padawan Rey has quite taken my favour and I dare say she may have even taken yours Artoo! Why, just recently I heard from a BB unit-" The protocol droid was abruptly cut off by a small screech from the R2 unit as a nearby socket began shooting sparks towards the droid.
"Oh dear!" was all Threepio could say as R2-D2 immediately disconnected, then whirred itself over to a neighbouring panel, beginning its search again. "The princess will not be very pleased with that."
Despite the near inflammation of his counterpart, Threepio continued prattling on about the bravery and kindness of the Jakku scavenger. It wasn't obvious whether the smaller droid was listening to C-3PO's tale; however, after minutes of Threepio's non-stop monologue, Artoo finally divulged its opinions of the Padawan.
"Master Ben? She reminds you of Master Ben? Artoo you are far too ignorant, not all humans are the same you know. Just because they are Jedi doesn't mean they are similar at all; it's like comparing an ewok to a wookie! They both have fur but I'd much rather get on the bad side of an ewok."
R2-D2 paused in its digital endeavours, turning its sensor towards its fellow droid, then back to its original escapade, emitting a few short beeps before disconnecting and heading towards the door.
"R-related? Master Ben and Padawan Rey are related?" Threepio stammered, following the smaller droid in a hurry. "Artoo, I don't know where you get these absurd notions. I ought to report you to get your memory drive checked!"
The pair continued out into the hall, Threepio beginning a lecture on proper droid maintenance. As all resonance of the droids had slowly drifted away, Rey finally released a long-held breath.
Anguish flooded her senses. Her heart thudding in her ears as she gasped for air. She had held herself still for so long against the cool metal wall that her entire body felt stiff. She tried to stretch out her legs and run back to her dormitory but she was almost paralysed with shock. Did Luke not trust the General? Why else would he go behind her back and send R2-D2 to such a remote part of the base? Worst of all... was she really related to Ben Solo? How much did Luke know? How was this all possible?
Panting, she stood above his motionless body. Heat flushed beneath her cheeks as sweat began to dampen her face. She watched the unmoving Kylo Ren sprawled across the floor beneath her.
Was... was he still alive? Rey kicked away the fraction of Kylo's cape by his head and crouched beside him, bringing her face closer to his. She hovered mere centimetres from his mouth, squeezing her eyes shut and turning her cheek.
To Rey's relief, the man breathed ever so slightly against her cheek. Still alive then.
She opened her eyes to discover her VERY close proximity to her unconscious -but alive- adversary. Three. He had small dark tufts of baby hair along his hairline. Two. He smelled nice, like the spices a Tokoyan apostate once tried to trade with her. One. Up-close she could see how deep the scar she had given him must have been.
Another of Kylo Ren's breaths warmed against Rey's cheek and she immediately withdrew, taking a few quick steps backward, returning to her crouched position at a new comfortable distance from Kylo Ren.
"He- he kissed me!" She squeaked, feeling slightly nauseous as she drew back the fresh memory.
"You're lying! You really don't know my name." She couldn't quite tell why this upset her, he was her enemy, it really shouldn't matter to her what he called her.
However, some part of her found it belittling, never being acknowledged, not being treated as an equal – at least in terms of strength.
"Go to sleep, scavenger." And so she pulled his hair.
It was a cheap and nasty move, but an effective one she'd learnt very early on during her time on Jakku.
"Ow! Wha-" She tackled him to the ground, removing her left arm from the sling and taking two handfuls of his hair and tugging at it.
"Call me by my name!" She demanded.
"Argh!" He cried, trying to grab onto her arms and pull her off him.
She was getting her way, despite her injured arm she was managing to hold his wriggling body firmly beneath her. Inflicting a pain which she was sure he was not accustomed to.
Unfortunately, dirty tricks and unaccustomed experiences must have been on Kylo Ren's mind as he propped himself up on one elbow, cupping Rey's cheek and drew her into a soft kiss.
Her hands stilled in his hair, but she didn't let go as his lips placed themselves against hers, slowly increasing the pressure. Tingles shot down her spine as he brushed his hand passed her hair, holding gently onto the back of her head, attempting to pull her in closer.
He tilted his head to the side, his prominent nose knocking against hers, setting off an electrical signal in her brain.
"No, no, no!" Was all she could think. She released his hair and placed her hands on each side of his face. Kylo took this as a positive advance and tried to deepen the kiss, his heart rate elevating, thudding in his temples against Rey's fingers.
Rey promptly probed his mind and gathered all the force she could towards it, rendering him unconscious. The last thing she heard was a single word from Kylo's mind. "Rey."
It was her first attempt at using the force in that way, but her closeness to his mind had made it easier. His moment of vulnerability giving her the perfect opportunity to take him out.
She sighed and fiddled with the hem on her pants – his pants. She wished Luke was here, he'd have answers. Why she thought attempting a direct confrontation with Kylo Ren would solve her problems she couldn't even remember. Surely simply asking Luke about what she had overheard from R2-D2 and C-3PO would have been easier than what she had now gotten herself into.
Suddenly, the man behind her current predicament began quivering before her. Violently whipping his head side to side. He was having a nightmare. However, the twitching only got worse as small whimpers began to escape his lips.
"Hey!" She called out in attempt to rouse the sleeping man. "Hey wake up!" She crawled over to him and gave his shoulder a squeeze.
Kylo's eyes shot open with her touch, ceasing all movement. Then he brought a hand to his head and let out a moan.
"My head hurts." He groaned with a hint of surprise. Rey released his shoulder and leaned back, trying to casually put distance between herself and Ren.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm not used to using the force for that." She waved a hand in the general direction of his head.
A slight smile spread across Kylo's mouth as he chuckled.
"I need to stop taking my mask off around you. You're ruining my almost spotless record of lack of head injuries."
Rey laughed at this, a hearty laugh. It was a sensation she hadn't experienced in a long time. A long time. However, the laughter abruptly ended, both parties surprised at Rey's response.
A slight pink touched her cheeks, firing up as she caught her adversary watching her. Somewhere between a relaxed smile and a focused stare. She shifted under his gaze, waiting for him to look away, embarrassed.
But he didn't.
"Stop." She sternly shot at him, attempting to exude dominance.
His gaze didn't shift, simply leaning closer.
"You're beautiful, you know." He hummed. More annoying persistence. Rey sighed, standing up and dusting herself off. She put the compliment to the back of her mind.
"I said stop." She repeated, furrowing her brows.
"Why? I do what I want, nobody tells me what to do." Rey scoffed, turning her back to him as he also got to his feet. "Join me Rey."
She bit the inside of her cheek, her name... he said her name. She held her breath. Three. He took a step closer. Two. Another. One. Another.
"You're..." He stopped in his tracks, anticipating her response. "such a child."
"Stop calling me a child, Rey." He growled. She could feel him reaching out to take her hand.
She turned on her heel and swatted him away before his hand could enclose hers. Maddened as he continued to pester her.
"That's your problem. You are only a man, a very childish man. With small-minded childish ultimatums." Rey balled her hands into fists at her sides, Kylo gritted his teeth. Before he could retort she cut him off. "Don't push yourself too hard. For once at least try to think seriously before you act. Otherwise you'll just wear yourself out."
Kylo was fervent, shifting constantly on his feet; he began waving his arms about.
"You- you think I'm not serious about this?" He reached towards her, attempting to close the space between them. He towered over Rey, taking her cheeks in his hands and leaning down.
This was not taken well by Rey, responding to his attempted kiss by driving her elbow sharply into his gut. He staggered back, clutching his side, bewildered by her ardent negative response.
He coughed roughly, slightly winded. Her annoyance only increased by his constant griping.
"Is this what you see in your dreams? I'm some weak woman who gives herself over to you, changed by a kiss? Thank-you, thank-you Kylo Ren for giving my life purpose beyond my puny, weak existence." The sarcasm rolled of her as she sneered. Spitting out each word like irritating sand sticking to her tongue.
"You!" He roared, his strong voice drumming through Rey's body. Then tempestuously sending piles of junk flying against the wall. Clattering and breaking apart on impact. "You were never weak in my dreams Rey! Every night since we first met, you came to me in my dreams. Again and again, we fought. Night after night, we joined forces... and it was powerful, unlike anything I've ever experienced. We became stronger - together."
Rey's breath caught in her chest, powerful palpitations racking her body.
Force.
He was serious. For the first time since their earlier fight, Rey felt Kylo's power. She could sense his passion, she didn't need the force to feel it rolling off him.
There they stood, looking into each others eyes. Waiting to see who would make the next move. The stand-still seemed to slowly wind each of them down: rapid breaths steadied, increased heart rates slowed, their harsh expressions relaxed.
What should I do with you Kylo Ren.
Unsure how to react, she flexed her injured shoulder, grimacing slightly as she tried to replace it into the sling.
"I'm going to sleep." She finally whispered, worn-out from the long day. She glanced at the fraction of Kylo Ren's cape on the ground, debating whether to take it or leave it.
She dragged her feet along the ground as she picked up the cloth, taking it over to a comfortable-looking corner of the makeshift shelter, closing her eyes.
Kylo Ren hadn't moved, but eventually she heard him shuffling and not long after, she fell asleep.
Don't worry, they're not actually related. Not in this story anyway!
Oh boy, I was hoping to have this up much sooner but of course life has it's way of getting in the way.
This is the longest chapter so far! Yay!
What do you think? Will Kylo win Rey over? What are the secrets Luke has been hiding from everyone?
Next chapter Kylo POV (expect lots of Kylo fawning over Rey).
I've got some ideas swimming around for a new story including this pair, so I'll probably be finishing this one off soon.
Let me know what you think with a review!