Tethered

6: Feelings We Feel

For a week straight you felt your new self-proclaimed teacher and it was absolutely exhausting. Ever since the night he left you, you couldn't stop feeling him. It was like you were tethered together. You followed him as he moved about in his day, from his quarters to different spots around the ship. Following him, you learned that the ship was far more expansive than you'd ever dreamed. You'd only ever known your small cell and the short path to your captor's throne room and now you knew so much more. Kylo went so many places.

And if that wasn't enough, you felt so many more people. The ship was full of them. Wherever Kylo went, he interacted with dozens of new people. Their signatures intermixed with his for mere moments at a time, aside from six people whom he seemed to interact with often, but it was just long enough for you to feel them. It was incredible.

However, it was also very draining. You found yourself devoid of any and all energy at the end of the day. You weren't used to so much stimulus all at one point and you were collapsed on your mat at night without even doing any work. You were mentally exhausted which caused a physical exhaustion as well.

But, lying there at night, you started to understand what had drawn Kylo to you. Although faint, you felt it: a connection that even you weren't aware of. You were tethered to him and it seemed that there was no way to break the link. Lying down was like lying in the same room with him. If you closed your eyes, you could almost feel his presence beside you. You unconsciously fed off of his energy, using it for strength and security. You didn't think that being aware of this would do you any good, but you were sorely mistaken.

The first night you acknowledged your connection, you had the best sleep of your entire life. You dreamed of lovely things: of laughter and meadows and sitting in the grass. Digging your toes into the dirt, you felt at peace in this dream. And he was there with you. The man had somehow wiggled his way into your dream and sat with you at the opposite end of the field. Kylo's eyes stayed trained on you in the dream, watching you with intense curiosity.

You couldn't remember the last time you'd been so at peace. You'd slept in late, being awoken with a start when the morning guard came by with your breakfast. You'd been surprised to wake up to the sound of the door opening and he'd been surprised that you were still asleep. Usually you would've been awake for hours before he came.

Kylo came to you again at the end of the week in the dead of the night when everyone was asleep.

You sat in your cell leaning into the corner with your eyes closed and tracked him every step of his journey. You saw him walking, that mask covering his head and cape billowing out behind him, in your mind's eye. He was featureless, only a black mass moving through an endless sea of darkness, but you knew it was him. After a week of growing accustomed to his presence in the Force, you knew you'd never forget him and what he felt like.

You didn't even look up when he came to the cell door. You didn't need to. "I hate this," you mumbled softly when he was close enough to hear you. "I can't lose you."

"I know." His voice was modified once more. You found yourself growing irritated at it. You preferred his raw, unfiltered voice to this. "I felt you."

Your eyes flittered up as the door came unlocked and swung open. "Is this what's been keeping you up at night? Me being there, in your head, all the time?"

He nodded as he stepped in. "You would cry for me, almost like you were asking to be found. It's what led me here."

"I feel it," you admitted. "I feel the connection."

"And tell me..." He fell gracefully to the floor in front of you and sat back on his heels. With slow movements, he reached up and removed his helmet. "How does it feel?" His eyes held yours captive, commanding an answer.