POKER FACE - Kylo Ren.

Chapter 11 - Stay & Consequences

   A kind nurse had come to get you once Poe had woken up from his surgery.

   She led you down the busy hallways, her brightly coloured scrubs swishing with each movement. You anxiously studied everything as your heart hammered in your chest. He was alive.

   You were just relived to know he was still breathing, let alone survived and somewhat healthy. Back at the casino, with all that blood, you were confident he would have died. But as the nurse had told you, 'miracles happen'.

   She had led you down a hall, and around a few corners, but eventually the two of you stopped at a doorway. The wooden door was cracked open slightly, the sound of a female voice soft as she spoke to a male voice you recognized all too well – Poe's.

   You took in a sharp breath, pushing past the door. Eyes flickering over the small room, it was all blue painted walls and hospital machines. The bright sun shone through one of the blue curtained windows, just opposite of the hospital bed. A tv played softly from the corner of the room where it sat on the wall.

   Your wide eyes found Poe, a sigh leaving your chest.

   He was laid out across the bed, arms all tubbed up to machines. He was dressed in one of those itchy hospital gowns, a thick bandage on his stomach poking through the thin fabric. A blanket was pulled up at his waist. You could hear the soft sound of his heart monitor beating — he was alive.

   "Poe," you said softly, standing by the doorway.

   Poe and the nurse attending him looked over at you. A familiar pair of brown eyes met yours, and your heart surely ruptured in your chest right there and then. You could see his face pinch in a look of shock, maybe even relief. You weren't sure.

   Your knees felt like jello as you took cautious steps towards the bed he laid in. The nurse who had been doing a checkup on him quickly finished and then gave him a firm nod, leaving the room to give the two of you privacy. You were thankful for that.

   Standing by the side of his bed now, all you could do was gawk. He looked back at you with tired eyes, dark bags under his eyes and scruff grown on his face. His hair was tousled, skin lost of all of its colour. He looked like he had just come back from the dead — and he had.

   You could see his eyes scanning over you with a worried look. You hadn't even realized you were still wearing the same clothing — shirt all stained with a pool of his blood, crusted on your hands and arms and pants.

   "You're alive." You choked out, throat all closed up from being emotional.

   He starred off for a long minute before answering, voice hoarse and groggy. "I am." He spoke back slowly.

   You couldn't imagine what he was feeling. Probably horror, you thought. The physical and emotional pain he must have gone through was too great to estimate. You felt guilty for it, because you had been convinced it was your fault it happened. And it was, the bullet was meant to hit Kylo, after all.

   You sucked in a ragged breath, trying to hold back the happy tears that sprung in your eyes. "Oh god..." you paused, "I really thought you were dead." You forced out.

   There was so much you had to say. You wanted to apologize for cutting him off, it wasn't what you really wanted. You wanted, needed, him again. Having Kylo was uncertain now, and you couldn't let yourself lose another friend like this. If Poe had died, you would have hated yourself for it.

   "I thought I died too," he croaked, "and I wish I had."

   Your brows slowly knit in concern. You could see the look on his face, all pinched in anger, maybe hatred. Reaching out your hand, you grasp his. He doesn't welcome nor reject your touch.