The bell above the shop door jingled merrily, Rey looked up from the intricate package she was wrapping.
The woman who entered was strikingly beautiful, with sleek dark hair that fell in perfect waves and piercing green eyes that seemed to take in every detail of the cluttered shop at once.
"Welcome to Solo & Cal's," Kylo said from behind the counter. "How can I assist you today?"
The woman's eyes lit up as they landed on Kylo, a coy smile playing at her perfectly painted lips. "Oh my," she purred, sauntering towards the counter with feline grace. "I had no idea the service here would be so... attractive."
Rey felt her cheeks flush, an uncomfortable knot forming in her stomach.
"I'm Bazine," the woman introduced herself, extending a perfectly manicured hand towards Kylo. "And you are...?"
"Kylo," he replied, his tone polite as he shook her hand briefly. "Is there something specific you're looking for today?"
Bazine's eyes lit up with recognition. "Kylo Ren? The prodigy from Hogwarts? Oh, I've heard so much about you." She leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "They say you were the most talented student Hogwarts had seen in generations. What in Merlin's name are you doing working in a dusty old shop like this?"
Rey bristled at the dismissive way Bazine referred to Solo & Cal's, but she bit her tongue, focusing intently on the package in front of her. She could feel Kylo's discomfort radiating across the room.
"Solo & Cal's is a respectable establishment," Kylo said, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his voice. "We provide an essential service to the wizarding community."
Bazine laughed, a tinkling sound that somehow managed to be both melodious and condescending. "Oh, darling, I'm sure you do. But surely someone of your... talents... could find more stimulating work." Her eyes raked appreciatively over Kylo's tall frame.
She busied herself with reorganizing a nearby shelf of enchanted compasses, trying to look occupied while straining to hear every word.
Bazine leaned against the counter, her body language unmistakably flirtatious. "Tell me, Kylo, do you ever get out from behind this dusty old counter? There's a new cocktail bar that just opened in Horizont Alley - I'd love to buy you a drink sometime."
Rey nearly dropped the compass she was holding, her heart pounding uncomfortably in her chest. She sneaked a glance at Kylo, trying to gauge his reaction.
Kylo's expression remained neutral as he replied, "I appreciate the offer, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline. My responsibilities here keep me quite busy."
Bazine's gaze drifted past Kylo, finally seeming to notice Rey's presence. Her perfectly shaped eyebrows arched in surprise. "Oh, I didn't realize you were babysitting today as well," she said, her tone dripping with condescension. "How... quaint."
Rey felt her cheeks burn with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation. "I'm not being babysat," she said, her voice coming out sharper than intended. "I work here too."
She turned back to Kylo, her voice dripping with false sympathy. "It must be so tiresome, having to mind a teenager all summer. No wonder you look so... tense."
Rey's hands tightened on the package she was wrapping, nearly crushing the delicate magical compass inside.
"Rey is a valued member of our team," he said firmly, his dark eyes flashing with a hint of anger. "And I can assure you, I'm not 'babysitting' anyone."
A flicker of annoyance crossed Bazine's face, quickly replaced by another dazzling smile. "Well, I can see you're quite... committed to your work here," she said, reaching into her handbag. She produced an elegant business card, the script shimmering with enchanted ink. "But if you ever change your mind about that drink, or perhaps something more exciting, do give me a visit"
She placed the card on the counter with a wink, her fingers lingering a moment longer than necessary. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Kylo Ren," she purred. With a final dismissive glance at Rey, Bazine sauntered out of the shop, the bell chiming in her wake.
"Well," Kylo said after a moment, his voice tinged with dry humor, "that was... interesting."
Rey found herself staring at the business card on the counter, she cleared her throat, trying to keep her voice light. "So... are you going to take her up on that offer?"
Kylo looked down at the shimmering card . "Huh" he said quietly. "It has been a while since I went on a date."
Rey felt her heart sink. Of course Kylo would be interested in someone like Bazine – beautiful, sophisticated, closer to his own age.
"Is my company too boring for you?" Rey blurted out. "I mean, I know I'm just a kid and all, but..."
Kylo's expression softened, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Of course not, Rey," he said gently. "Your company is far from boring. Besides I'm too busy making sure Han's shop doesnt collapse"
Rey giggled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. "I suppose someone has to keep this place from falling apart," she agreed. "Though I'm not sure even your magic could fix that creaky floorboard by the Vanishing Cabinets."
Kylo's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Are you doubting my abilities, Rey? I'll have you know I once transfigured an entire classroom into a tropical paradise – complete with singing parrots and coconut trees that tried to bonk Professor Flitwick on the head."
Rey's laughter echoed through the shop, startling a dozing Sneakoscope into frantic spinning. "You did not!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight.
"I most certainly did," Kylo said, his usual seriousness melting away as he recounted the tale. "It was for my N.E.W.T. practical exam. I may have gotten a bit carried away with the details. The examiner was quite impressed – right up until one of the carnivorous orchids tried to eat his quill."
As their laughter subsided, Rey glanced at the dwindling stack of wrapping paper behind the counter. "Oh no," she said, "We're almost out of wrappers. And you know how particular some of the customers can be about their packages."
"You're right. We can't risk running out, especially with that shipment of singing teacups due next week." He glanced at the ornate clock on the wall, its hands shaped like miniature broomsticks. "We've got some time before the afternoon rush. Why don't we head out together and pick up some supplies?"
Rey's face lit up. "Really? That sounds brilliant!" She paused, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Although, are you sure you want to be seen out and about with a teenager? Might ruin your chances with the likes of Bazine."
Kylo rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "I think I'll survive. Besides," he added with a wink, "I have it on good authority that my companion is a 'valued member of the team,' not just some teenager."
As they gathered their things to leave, Rey found herself struck by a sudden curiosity. "Kylo," she began hesitantly,
she fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve, suddenly feeling very young and foolish. "Well, I was just wondering... what do you like in a woman? I mean, what sort of qualities do you find attractive?, what do you like in a woman? I mean, if you were going to date someone..."
Kylo looked taken aback by the question, his brow furrowing in thought. "I... I'm not sure I've ever really thought about it," he admitted. "I suppose, for starters, someone who appreciates the shop and the work we do here."
Rey nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. "That makes sense," she said, proud of how steady her voice sounded. "Shall we head out then? Those wrappers won't buy themselves."
Rey found herself walking alongside Kylo through the bustling street. They were on a mission to restock wrapping supplies for the shop, a task that would normally have been mundane. But after weeks of Kylo's increasing absences and his habit of burying himself in work at the back of the shop, Rey couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement at spending time with him outside of Solo & Cal's.
Rey found herself stealing glances at Kylo "It's nice to be out and about," Rey ventured, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. "I've missed this – just walking and talking with you."
"It is nice," he agreed softly.
As they neared Wiseacre's Wizarding Equipment, their destination for the wrapping supplies, Rey gathered her courage. "Kylo," she began hesitantly, "I was wondering... how come I've never met your parents? You've never mentioned visiting them, and they've never come to the shop."
Kylo's step faltered for a moment. "My father... and I have a decent relationship." he said slowly. "And my mother, well, she's very busy. Important Ministry work."
Rey nodded. "I'm sure she must be proud of you, though," she said softly. "Running the shop, all the advanced magic you've been studying..."
"She is... proud, in her own way. But her work keeps her very occupied. Once in a while, I'll get a letter from her owl. He's this fussy bird, always preening and fretting" A ghost of a smile tugged at Kylo's lips. "The letters are usually brief – updates on her latest projects, reminders to eat properly and get enough sleep."
Rey giggled at this. "What's she like?"
"She was quite the accomplished duelist in her day, you know. Would probably give professor Skywalker a run for his money" He smirked and Rey giggled some more.
They paused outside Wiseacre's window display. "What about you, Rey? I just realized I've never asked – do you know anything about your parents?"
Rey felt a familiar pang in her chest at the question. She busied herself with examining a display of color-changing ink, trying to keep her voice steady. "Not really," she admitted. "I was left at at an orphanage for wizards children when I was very young. I don't remember them at all."
"That must have been difficult," he said softly.
Rey shrugged. "It was, sometimes. But then I got my Hogwarts letter, and it was like... like I finally belonged somewhere, you know?"
"I'm glad you found a home at Hogwarts," he said warmly. "And you know, you always have a home at Solo & Cal's too. Han may not say it often, but he thinks of you as family."
Rey felt a rush of warmth at Kylo's words. The shop had become more than just a summer job
"I do feel like I have a family now," Rey said, her eyes shining. "Rose and Finn are the best friends I could ask for. And Poe's like the annoying but lovable older brother I never had." She laughed, remembering some of Poe's more outrageous stunts. "Han, Lando, and Luke... they're all like father/uncle figures to me in different ways. Han with his gruff affection, Lando with his outrageous stories, and Luke with his wisdom and patience."
They entered Wiseacre's, the scent of parchment and magical inks enveloped them. Enchanted quills danced in glass cases, and rolls of shimmering gift wrap unfurled themselves enticingly. Rey ran her fingers over a bolt of paper that sparkled like the night sky, tiny constellations twinkling beneath her touch.
Kylo watched her with a fond smile. "And what about me?" he asked. "I suppose I'm like another older brother to you, aren't I?"
Rey's hand stilled on the starry wrapping paper. She felt her cheeks grow warm as she turned to face Kylo. "NO," she said, perhaps a bit too quickly. A blush crept up her neck as she realized how abrupt that sounded. "I mean... you're not... I don't think of you as a brother."
Kylo felt a sharp pang in his chest, his face falling. "Oh," he said quietly, trying to hide the hurt in his voice.
Rey's heart raced as she realized how her words must have sounded. She wanted to explain, to tell him that he meant so much more to her than just a brother figure.
They made their purchases in silence and left Wiseacre's, Rey desperately wished she could take back her words, or find a way to explain what she really meant.
They walked back to Solo & Cal's, Kylo's shoulders slumped slightly. He had hoped that after all this time, Rey saw him as family. But her quick denial stung more than he wanted to admit. Perhaps he was destined to always be on the outside looking in, never truly belonging anywhere.
They entered the shop in silence. The cheerful jingle of the bell seemed at odds with the heavy atmosphere between them. Rey began carefully arranging the new wrapping supplies on the shelves, stealing glances at Kylo's brooding form.
"Kylo," she began hesitantly, "About what I said earlier... I didn't mean-"
"It's fine, Rey," Kylo cut her off, his voice carefully neutral. "You don't need to explain."
"No, please," Rey insisted, setting down a roll of shimmering paper. "You're important to me. More than just-"
But Kylo was already backing away towards the rear of the shop. "I need to get back to my research," he said, not quite meeting her eyes. "There are some spells I've been meaning to look into."
Before Rey could say anything more, Kylo strode to the back of the shop. Through the partially open door, Rey caught a glimpse of Kylo hunched over Luke's book, she notices a small writing saying "For Enemies" written on one of the pages.
The next few days passed in a haze of awkward silences and stolen glances. Rey threw herself into her work, meticulously organizing shelves and assisting customers with forced cheer. But her heart wasn't in it.
On the third day, as Rey was carefully wrapping a set of enchanted quills, she heard Kylo's deep voice from behind her. "Rey," he said softly, "do you have a moment?"
She turned, her heart leaping at the sight of him. Kylo looked tired, dark circles under his eyes betraying late nights spent poring over magical tomes. But there was something else in his expression – a nervousness she wasn't used to seeing.
"Of course," Rey said, setting aside the half-wrapped package. "What is it?"
Kylo ran a hand through his hair, a gesture Rey had come to recognize as a sign of inner turmoil. "I... I've decided to accept Bazine's invitation," he said, not quite meeting Rey's eyes. "For drinks. Tonight."
Rey felt as though all the air had been sucked out of the room. Of course he would accept. She forced herself to nod, hoping her face didn't betray the turmoil in her heart.
"That's... that's great," she managed, her voice sounding strained even to her own ears. "I hope you have a good time."
Kylo seemed to hesitate, as if waiting for her to say more. When she didn't, he continued, "I was hoping you could man the shop this evening. I know it's short notice, but-"
"It's fine," Rey interrupted, turning back to the quills with trembling hands. "I can handle it. You should go... get ready or whatever."
After a moment of heavy silence, she heard Kylo's footsteps retreating to the back of the shop. Only then did she allow herself to slump against the counter, blinking back the tears that threatened to fall.
The rest of the afternoon crawled by at an agonizing pace. Rey went through the motions of running the shop, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Part of her wanted to be happy for Kylo – didn't he deserve a chance at happiness? But a larger part ached with a longing she couldn't quite name.
The week crawled by and each day a bitter pill for Rey to swallow. Kylo's absences became more frequent, his evenings increasingly occupied by outings with Bazine she assumes.
As the days wore on, Rey's resentment began to fester. She couldn't help but feel abandoned, left to shoulder the burden of the shop while Kylo gallivanted off with his new paramour. Hadn't she proven herself to be a valuable member of the team?
Rey found herself lingering by the door to the back room, straining to hear any signs of life. But more often than not, she was met with silence.
She missed the sound of his voice drifting from the back room, the scratch of his quill on parchment as he deciphered ancient spells. She longed for the quiet moments they used to share, sipping tea and discussing the latest magical theories.
Rey's mood grew darker with each passing day. She snapped at customers over minor infractions, her patience worn thin by the constant demands on her time and energy. Even the once soothing task of wrapping packages became a source of irritation, the delicate paper crumpling under her agitated fingers.
As evening approached, Rey heard Kylo moving about upstairs, getting ready for his date. She busied herself with tidying displays that didn't need tidying, anything to keep her hands and mind occupied.
The hours dragged by as Rey manned the shop alone. The usual cheerful chaos of Solo & Cal's felt hollow without Kylo's presence. Even the magical objects seemed subdued - the self-sorting shelves barely shuffled their contents, and the enchanted mirrors whispered half-hearted compliments to passing customers.
The bell above the door chimed, making Rey's heart leap. But it was just another late customer, browsing the shelves of enchanted quills and ink that never ran dry. Rey helped them with forced cheer, her mind elsewhere.
As she locked up for the night, Rey couldn't help but wonder where Kylo and Bazine had gone. Was he laughing at her witty conversation over drinks at that new cocktail bar? Were they strolling hand-in-hand through the lamp-lit streets of Diagon Alley? The images her mind conjured made her feel sick.
Rey was just about to head upstairs when she heard the telltale crack of apparition outside. The shop door swung open, and Kylo stepped inside.
Her breath caught in her throat as she took in his appearance. His dark hair was slightly mussed, and there was a flush to his cheeks that she'd never seen before. But it was the marks on his neck that made Rey's stomach lurch. Dark bruises trailed down from just below his ear, disappearing beneath the collar of his shirt.
"Oh," Kylo said, sounding surprised to see her. "You're still up."
Rey swallowed hard, forcing her voice to remain steady. "Just finishing up," she said. "How... how was your date?"
Kylo ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that usually made Rey's heart flutter but now just twisted the knife deeper. "It was fine," he said, his tone noncommittal.
Rey nodded mechanically, her eyes fixed on a point just past Kylo's shoulder. She couldn't bear to look directly at him, to see the evidence of his evening's activities. "That's... that's good," she managed.
She turned abruptly, needing to do something, anything, with her hands. She reached for a box of new inventory on a high shelf, her movements jerky and uncoordinated.
"Rey, be care-" Kylo's warning came too late.
The box slipped from Rey's grasp, crashing to the floor. The sound of shattering glass filled the air as delicate magical instruments spilled across the worn floorboards.
"Merlin's beard," Kylo muttered, moving to help. "We need to be more careful with these shipments. Some of these items are irreplaceable."
Something in Rey snapped. All the hurt, confusion, and jealousy she'd been bottling up came rushing to the surface. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she spat, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I wouldn't want to inconvenience you or damage your precious inventory. Maybe you should get Bazine to help instead. I'm sure she'd be much more competent."
Kylo recoiled as if he'd been slapped. "Rey, what-"
"Just mind your own business, Kylo," Rey snapped, angry tears pricking at her eyes. "I'm sure you have better things to do than worry about than some dumb boxes"
Kylo stared at Rey, his dark eyes wide with confusion . "What's your deal?" he asked
Rey felt her anger flare even hotter. "My deal? I don't have a deal," she snapped, her voice rising. "Why don't you just go back to your new girlfriend? At least finally someone actually likes you."
The words hung in the air between them, Kylo's face hardened, his jaw clenching as he took a step towards her. "Why are you like this?" he demanded. "What's gotten into you, Rey?"
Rey let out a bitter laugh, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. "Why do you care?" she shot back. "It's not like we're family"
Kylo shook his head, bewilderment clear on his face. "What are you talking about? Of course I care about you, Rey. You know that."
"Well I certainly don't care about a filthy Slytherin." she spat, the words tumbling out before she could stop them.
The moment the sentence left her lips, Rey knew she had gone too far. She watched as Kylo's face crumpled, the anger draining away to be replaced by raw pain. It was as if she had physically struck him, and Rey felt a wave of regret wash over her.
Kylo took a step back, his tall frame seeming to shrink in on itself. "I see," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "If that's how you truly feel, then I suppose there's nothing left to say."
He turned away, moving towards the stairs that led to the apartment above the shop. But before he could take more than a few steps, Rey's voice stopped him.
"Kylo, wait," she called out, her anger giving way to desperation. "I didn't mean-"
But Kylo didn't turn around. "Goodnight, Rey," he said, his voice hollow. "Lock up when you're done."
Rey watched helplessly as Kylo disappeared up the stairs, the sound of his footsteps fading away. She stood alone in the silent shop, surrounded by the wreckage of broken magical instruments and the even greater wreckage of her own words.
As the full weight of what she had said crashed down upon her, Rey sank to the floor, heedless of the shards of glass around her. Hot tears spilled down her cheeks as she picked up the shards one by one, wishing desperately that she could take back every hurtful word she threw at him.
On her last night before returning to Hogwarts, Rey couldn't sleep. She crept down to the shop floor, settling into the worn armchair tucked away in a corner. The shop seemed to breathe around her, magical objects humming softly in the darkness. She thought of Kylo, she has barely seen him anymore, wondered where he was, what urgent business kept calling him away. As the first pale light of dawn crept through the windows, Rey finally drifted off.
Then came fourth year, and Kylo was simply... gone.