The Brighter Dark (Kylo Ren X Reader)

Ch. 12- Elephants in Rooms

A/N:

This chapter.... is fucking LONG.

I'm talking over 9k words. I know that's about average for some writers, but not for me. I tried splitting this up into two different chapters, but no matter where I tried to separate it, the story just didn't flow the way I wanted it to. So, here you go! Have an extra-long chapter as a late birthday present from me to you (my birthday was on Tuesday and I wrote a lot of this then).

WARNINGS: fighting, tiny bit of blood but not in a sexual way, and !SMUT! FINALLY!

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You strolled into the gym at a quarter to noon, sporting a simple pair of thick black leggings and a black athletic top with long sleeves, fitted to hug your torso comfortably. Whatever you were about to spend your afternoon doing, Vicrul had told you to wear something that you could move in, so you had come prepared.

As soon as you stepped into the sky-lit circle of the arena, you could sense that you were not alone in the gym. You were beginning to get used to it- the feeling that you were simultaneously being pulled in the directions of six different scrutinizing gazes.

Your eyes took a moment to adjust to the blazing brightness of the sunlit circle before you were able to make out the figures surrounding you, each of them cloaked in the shadows beyond the perimeter of the arena. Surprisingly, you weren't met with masks this time, but six different pairs of eyes.

All of the Knights had shed their formidable helmets and mud-caked leather ensembles and replaced them with clothes not unlike yours. Each of them had dressed in thinner, breathable fabrics meant for movement, not protection, which told you that this was obviously a place where they felt safe enough to let their guards down. Evidently, they were so sure of how far their reputation preceded them on Kamparas that they were certain no one would even think about attacking this base. It gave you comfort to know that you were so safe here, but... you were also wondering if you had underestimated just how wary you should be of the Knights of Ren.

Were you in over your head here?

An electrifying chill alerted you of the presence behind you. You turned, head inclined in a respectful nod with eyes that peered through your lashes to meet his gaze. "Master Ren."

Unlike the rest of the Knights, Kylo hadn't changed much about his wardrobe. He still wore his familiar ribbed tunic and pants, only having left his cowl and helmet behind. He stopped about two feet from where you stood, taking a moment to appraise what he saw.

You could practically feel his eyes roving down your body, and you were suddenly self-conscious of just how tightly the thin black fabric hugged your every curve. You suppressed the urge to cross your arms in front of your chest, and instead squared your shoulders and straightened your spine.

It seemed like an eternity before Kylo had apparently gotten what he deemed a sufficient eyeful, and he gave you an approving nod as he strode into the center of the arena. You waited until you were sure he wasn't looking anymore to roll your eyes. Men.

Kylo led you into the central point of the gym, turning to face you when he stopped and standing at ease. "For the next three days," he began, "I will be assessing how much you already know, and how much you will need to be taught." You nodded, your eyes focused on his.

"Today you will not use the Force. I want to see what you're capable of on your own." He began to pace in a circle around you, and you couldn't help but remember how only days ago, the two of you had been in this exact same position in his chambers on the Finalizer. That felt like another life now; so much had changed in such a short time.