The Oracle walked from the room, shedding her cloak onto the floor, her body rapidly showing the effects of the endeavor. He was strong, and though he seemed to have been distracted for a moment at first, he was a taxing subject to explore. Moving through his mind felt like blades on her skin, it was chaotic and unbalanced and she had to run through it as if in a maze, often unsure of where she was going. She had run through, flinging open what doors were not locked trying to find a clearer glimpse of the young Ben Solo, of a happy time in his life. She could feel the warmth of the woman's embrace; she could hear the man's deep roguish laughter.
The problem had come when he began to enter her mind. She had been naïve in believing that he would or could keep to a purely defensive practice. He was aggressive, rash, and he needed to learn restraint. He had come at her with what she assumed was nearly the height of his ability and, despite her relative superiority; she was unable to completely defend herself. Like a wild wounded animal, retreating to safety, she left fragments of violence in her wake, shrapnel from her past. She became blinded by irrational fear and fought back, evacuating him from her mind, and in a hazy moment after the brief battle, trapped him in a replay of that deeply buried memory.
"Stupid, childish, risky…" She scolded herself. She let out a slow breath. She felt his skin against her fingertips, how his cheek warmed her palm as he leaned into her for the briefest moment. Even if it was for only a moment, he had opened to her; he had been willing to see what she showed him. An odd thought occurred to her as sleep began to overcome her. "When was the last time Kylo Ren was touched by another person?"
Several hours had passed since her exhausting session with Kylo Ren. The Oracle lay tangled in sheets on her bed, bare limbs twisted through the pillows and blankets, spreading then constricting. Her hair tangled as she slept, messy tendrils forming in her fitful slumber.
Kylo Ren reappeared at her door. He waited a moment expecting the doors to open, but nothing happened. He stepped back turning back to the hall, reconsidering his return visit. He reached out seeking her out within her chambers. He felt her mind, like the wings of a moth beating against a cupped palm. There was no clear thought, he felt a mind that was frantic, desperate, tossing, turning, and in pain. He tapped the key code to her door and passed swiftly through the meditation room, pausing at the private door to her chambers, which opened automatically for him. He could see straight through the two doorways to see a girl cradled in dark blankets, slowly spinning, pulling a clutch of silken sheets to her face. She did not wake at his intrusion. He reached up and removed his helmet, setting it on the dining table as he passed. He watched curiously, as she turned once more, pulling one knee to her chest, one arm reaching out to the side. He reached out to her, his approach into her mind gentle and restrained like a light knock on a door, alerting her to his presence. Still though, she did not wake. He walked to her bedside pressing further into her consciousness, even in such a tiredly fitful state she was able to keep him out. He pulled his gloves off setting them beside him as he slowly sat at the edge of the bed. Kylo reached one hand out towards her fevered brow, he felt her thoughts becoming clearer, images beginning to appear, and then flicker out of sight.
It was dark and smoky, and the air was damp and heavy. Tiny frantic breaths, like those of a child. He was pushed out again. He watched as her brows knit together in her sleep and she made a small pained sound. He reached his bare hand towards her face, his fingers slipping from her cheek around the side of her neck, his fingertips brushing the edges of her damp tangled hair, his thumb resting just at her temple. He held back for a moment, watching her face relax at his touch, and then he dove back in.
A young girl and a woman and ran towards him in the dark humid forest. "Neera!" The woman's voice called out, a desperate screech. Blasters fired behind her and with a guttural cry, she disappeared from sight, the concealing smoke and fog became indistinguishable from one another. The air was hot and unbearably heavy at the same time. Another blaster fired and the girl stumbled forward, she looked up, her large grey eyes frantic, innocent, and defiant. Troopers advanced on her and a single uniformed officer followed. She turned, facing them from the ground, and for a moment everything was still. At the officer's command a single blaster fired at the girl. Her arm flung out just as the shot reached her wrist; it slowed in mid-air gliding up the side of her arm, stopping as it got closer. She screamed as her skin seared against the shot, she passed out, and the blast continued on, firing through her shoulder. "Liutenant Hux – Fetch the girl".
Kylo pulled himself from her mind, his gaze returning to her sleeping face, she seemed less fretful than before. His gaze dropped from her face, tracing down to the hand that reached towards him, her fingers were now knotted in his robes, pulling them closer along with the sheets. He felt her stir beside him and before he could move he felt her thoughts invade his, quickly and directionless, confused by his presence.
The Oracle's eyes fluttered open, looking up to see Kylo Ren hovering over her, his hands on her; he was in her room, on her bed. She lashed out at his mind for answers but quickly calmed herself, seeing what he had seen, his eyes watching her as he entered her chambers. Curious, searching, concerned. She sat up his hand falling away from her cheek, trailing down her neck before dropping away.
Her gaze focused on his as she considered him for a moment. "You exhaust me." She said gently glancing down, pulling her hand away from him, releasing her hold on his robes. It was all she could manage and, despite how violated she felt at this intrusion, he seemed to be growing closer to her, allowing her to get closer to him. She saw light in him for the first time in a long time, he was still conflicted but there were signs. He was frustrated and confused by it, and in his revelations she found some personal victory.
"I needed-" He began.
"You wanted to try again, to block me out?" She said angrily her gaze shooting to meet his. "You can't do that and invade my mind at the same time. You're meant to be improving your defensive strategies, you attacked me." She accused.
They watched each other for a long moment and finally she leaned towards him her lips inches from his ear, her voice quiet, her breath warm against his neck. "Don't let me in…" she lifted one hand to the side of his head, her fingers weaving into his hair. She slowly pressed into his consciousness. She saw her own memories there and had to fight through her own discomfort in continuing on through his mind. He pushed her out, gently at first, his force hesitant. She pressed harder, a slow warming sensation spreading through his mind, he pushed harder. "Keep your energy contained to your own mind." Her words became quieter as he pushed her further out of his head.
She stopped "That was better." She was quite sure it may have been the first compliment she ever gave him, he seemed to notice it too, a brief swell of pride at the rare and kind words. Her hand trailed down the back of his neck, her fingers untangling themselves from his hair. They were both suddenly aware of the other's proximity and this time it was she who broke the reverie.
"Come back later Kylo Ren, I cannot offer any help right now." He paused at her use of his name, rather than his title. He had heard a name in her mind, she must know it too, it was likely forbidden, like his true name, she was The Oracle now. She picked up his gloves, her eyes locked with his and held them out to him; his bare fingers laced over hers as he pulled them from her grasp and stood to leave. His pride prevented him from apologizing, she didn't expect it, but there was some resignation in his gaze as he glanced back at her on his way out of the room. He watched her tired eyes, heard her gentle sigh as she watched him go, the door closing behind him.
"She's opening up to me, she wants to help me, she wants me to be… something…", and he couldn't place it. He didn't know yet what she wanted for him, but her efforts today had showed a level of dedication to his training that made him want to trust her. "No, I do trust her…" he admitted, "She doesn't trust me."