Rekindled (A Star Wars AU Fanfic)

Part 1, Chapter 2

Remii would never admit it out loud but she was thrilled that Ben Solo was her date, over the moon! It was him! Of course, she doubted he felt the same way after...everything. But that didn't matter. What did matter was that he was here. In all honesty, he was the perfect date for her. He was intimidating, he already knew her so there'd be no ice-breaking, he was professional, and he already knew her family. This would be easy peasy, right? 

Remii hadn't realized how wordless the ride thus far had been, having fallen into her internal whirlpool of thought. Lifting her head to catch a glance his way, she watched as Kylo's eyes scanned over to her. "What is it?" He sounded more curious than irritated (thankfully). Remii fiddled with the hem of her dress.

"It's just...well, aside from a few weeks ago...it's been a while."

Any tension left on Kylo's face levelled then as he did some recollecting of his own. Getting her text, jumping into his car without a second thought. Her... Their... "It has. Are you doing well?"

Remii nodded, wiggling her leg. "I'm alright."

"Good." Kylo noticed her nervousness of course. Remii watched as his hand came into her line of sight, hovering then stopping before he could make contact and slowly retracting to the wheel. She'd watched him do this before and again she felt the same disappointment. "Don't be nervous, it'll be over before you know it."

Remii didn't respond. At this, Kylo squeezed the wheel - two pulses - before shifting his jaw and muttering, "I'm glad that it's you, Remii. That I get to see you. Even if it's just for the night."

At this Remii turned to gaze up at him. Kylo only allowed a glance because he knew that her big doe eyes could distract him enough to cause an accident. He could feel it and blinked it away with an exhale. "I feel the same way." A shorter silence this time. "I actually have something to admit. It's a tad embarrassing."

Kylo's brows pinched as he bit back a smile. "What is it?" Remii didn't respond. "Remii?"

She just wanted to hear him say her name again. 

"Before a couple of weeks ago...I was keeping tabs on you online."

Now Kylo couldn't win against his smirk. He poked his canines with his tongue, working to steady his focus. "Is that so?"

"Nothing stalker-y, just--"

"It sounds stalker-y to me."

"No, no." Finally Remii grinned. Just the sight of that smile made Kylo's heart stir. Seeing it purely, without the social media lens was... "It's just because...I was just curious."

Kylo didn't admit to his own stalking because of course, his was more than likely much more proactive than Remii's had been. Yes he'd also searched for her on social media but he'd also discovered the frequency of which she visited the local coffeeshop. Every Saturday morning at 8:40. He knew, creepy. It was hard to miss seeing as he could see it all from his place, see her. Had he been braver it would've taken a simple five minute walk to get to her. He'd assumed it'd make everything easier to stay away but of course all of that resistance built up over the years until fate eventually took the wheel. Running into her at the local market, catching her at a local restaurant with his parents. The parking garage...

"How many years has it been?"

Kylo blinked, letting reality pull him back. "Fifteen." Remii bit her lip, looking at him silently, quietly asking him to say more. Almost flattered that he knew the exact number. "That number's been revoked though, since I've seen you around."

Remii blinked, frowning. "You have?"

He nodded. He wouldn't admit that the anonymous stranger that had paid for her chai tea latte last weekend was him. Part of him hoped Remii would come to that conclusion on her own. 

The next glance he gave was lasting. He looked at how bright the strands of red and purple in her hair had become, the tiny birthmarks splashing across her skin that had grown with her. He could see her shoulder through the dress, and the speckles that they too had earned that trailed across her back. Just... "You've changed so much."

"I would hope so," Remii smirked. "I'm not the grass eater I once was."

A chuckle. It was as surprising to Kylo as it was to Remii. He watched her eyes twinkle at the realization that she'd been able to make him express genuine joy. If anyone could, it'd be her. After all, he'd once found her grass-eating habits as a toddler problematic but nevertheless entertaining.

"Do you remember that one family barbecue when that kid caught me eating grass and called me 'Gassy Grassy'?"

"Of course," Kylo scoffed. "I threatened an eternal wedgie on him. I'd never been so angry."

"You did that, and then to make it up to me you finally agreed to playing Kings and Queens. You coined me Queen Tulip."

"So childish."

"No. So sweet."

The moment faded just as quickly as it had arrived. Kylo watched as Remii's big sunbeam grin slowly faded as a thought turned her focus away from him. "What is it, Remii?"

Remii hesitated, probably allowing his possible answers to her query to play out in her mind before finding out for herself. She spoke softly but with a curious calculation. "Why act this way now?"

Kylo swallowed, the coldness that graced everyone he passed reforming. He tried his best to tame it, at least around her. "As opposed to what?"

He didn't look at her. He didn't want to see the disappointment, the hurt in her eyes. "You know what. You're so...calm now."

"I changed too, Remii."

They couldn't start it this way. It would make the evening unbearable, and Kylo couldn't stomach upsetting her. He was trying, and he was here for her. He noticed her leg jittering again.

"Are tulips still your favourite flower?"

Remii beamed shyly, the leg jitter stopping immediately. "They are, I love them. I used to think I only liked them because they were my mom's favourite but I love them for my own reasons."

Were they her mom's favourite? Who knows? Because as of now, we don't know who Remii's parents are. But a little bit of charming fill in the blanks never hurt anyone.

Kylo nodded, his smile once again returning. His mouth wasn't used to so much...merriness. He wasn't used to it, not after all this time. "Good," was all he said while his mind said much more.