Blaze Of Glory | Kylo Ren

Better We Grew Up Together

Ben's P.O.V.

"Ani... Wake up, Ani?"

I whisper as I come into her tent. She's sleeping soundly on her bed. She has a thin sheet covering her body and her dirty blonde hair is hanging off the edge. 

I smile at the sight of her. She's more beautiful than anything I've seen in the past seven years. It feels like only yesterday that I thought she looks like an angel, and somehow she still appears as one after all these years. 

I kneel in front of her when she hasn't stirred awake yet, and I rest a hand on her shoulder. I hear her sigh and lean more into her pillow but not wake up. My smile grows wider from the sound she makes. I let my fingers skim across her cheek as I whisper again.

"Anakia, you need to be waking up now..."

I hear in the distance the other padawan students getting ready for their jog with Leia. Glancing behind me and out through the crack of Ani's tent, I see them run as one out of the camp. The sun hasn't risen yet, but everyone's physical workout starts just before it does, as well as Ani and I.

Most of the padawans are still younglings, but Ani and I are eighteen years old. We're the oldest of the students. It makes sense since we're Luke's first students. 

Luke, at the moment, is out on a mission to bring a strong force user back here to train with the rest of us. While he's gone, Leia is here to teach the youngling's. Though Ani and I have a different training schedule than them. 

It's our own responsibility while Luke's gone to do it ourselves. I let my thumb rub against her pale smooth cheek before saying a little louder and in a stronger tone.

"Ani, you must get up now. Wake up."

I watch as her eyes open up slowly, rubbing her eyes and yawning. She looks around her tent tiredly. Her tent has gotten wider, more wood than tarp now, and filled with more things since her first year. 

She has a trunk full of dresses given from my mother. Ani's father's armor is up on a hook and she has stacks of books beside the doorway to get in. I look around and know if this was my tent, Luke would be mad at the clutter. 

When her eyes meet mine, I smile at her and pull my hand away from her cheek before she notices. Groaning, Ani sits up and stretches while asking in a morning tone.

"Is Luke back yet?"

"No." I shake my head in regret before standing back up. "But we must start our day. Mom's already outside with the younglings."

"Okay, let me get dressed." Ani stands up and stares up at me as if she's about to fall asleep again. "Wait outside. I'll only be a minute."

I nod before heading out of the tent; once I'm out, I don't see any of the younglings or my mother around. They must be on their running path around the forest. I fold my arms and stand outside Ani's tent, patiently waiting. 

I never feel impatient with Anakia. I feel as if we're the same and nothing she could do will truly annoy or upset me. She's like my other half, whatever happens to her, happens to me. Whatever I do, she does. 

Having her as my only friend, a best friend, for seven years has that effect. However, lately, I've gotten annoyed with my parents and Master. Leia has been so focused on the new children and teens on the camp, she's barely noticed Ani or me when we train. 

My father hasn't come to visit in almost half a year as well. I feel a sense of betrayal by him toward me and my mother. For Master Skywalker, he's been so busy in the past year in helping kids who are sensitive to the force that I and Ani have improved little on our skills.