Entirely Different

Chapter Twenty : The Void

Vicrul and Ushar had escorted you back to Kylo's quarters. Vicrul talked the whole way, you noticed he must have been the most charismatic of the group. You had gathered, in your brief time with the three knights over the course of your training today, that Cardo and Vicrul were brothers. Vicrul a bit broader and more boisterous than his younger brother. And Ushar, though you only heard him speak once or twice while under your influence, you rather enjoyed his quiet instruction.

The two left you safely inside Kylo's quarter's and once inside you took to a shower to wash off the sweat from training. You had been calm for most of the time, only panicking again when Cardo's influence finally faded away from your mind. The impending meeting with the Supreme Leader weighed heavily on you; it felt like hours of torture that went by far too quickly, at the same time. Finally, during your fourth attempt to braid your hair, Kylo finally walked through the hatch.

"Gods, finally!" You breathed, pushing your hands away from your hair.

He raised a brow.

"Excited to see me?"

"Actually, no. I was hoping to never see you again." You smirked.

He scoffed, brows drew together in fake anguish.

"Ouch."

"Well, you're dragging me to meet certain death. So." You said somewhat bitterly, out of fear.

Your hands busied themselves in your hair once more.

"What are you doing to your poor head?" He chuckled, unphased by your attitude.

You sighed, resigning your hands to your lap once more.

"I'm trying to braid it..." The defeat was foreign on your tongue.

Kylo didn't like hearing it.

"Let me." He offered quietly, sitting on the edge of the bed, close to you.

You lifted a brow to him, doubt evident and showing.

"What?" He smiled, turning your back to him, and carding his fingertips through your hair to loosen the tangles you'd set in place.

"I used to braid my mother's hair for her." He said softly.

You froze. This moment suddenly felt too intimate, the man behind you suddenly more human than god. Your blood ran cold, terrified for some odd reason. Kylo had never spoken about his family, hadn't even alluded that he'd ever been a part of one. To be honest, you hadn't even considered it. To even think of him in that sort of setting was foreign and unimaginable. And now he was behind you, gentle fingers sliding across your scalp to braid it into a neat plait. You were holding your breath.

The two of you sat in silence for a time while nimble fingers created a neat braid which fell gently down the center of your back. After a short time, he spoke.

"Cardo said you trained well today." His voice was soft and quiet.

You picked at a loose cuticle on your thumb and smiled.

"I know I did." You hummed, drunk on the praise.

Then, more quietly, you added: "I like the knights."

Kylo smiled, finishing the braid, and tossing it over your right shoulder.

"You've only met half of them." He laughed.

You rose to your knees and turned to face him.

"Who are the other three?" You asked, curious.

Kylo stole a glance at his data pad before answering.