Venus & Mars

Chapter 9 ~ Bipolar Tendencies

I didn't sleep much that night. My dreams were restless and full of memories from my early life. Specifically about the children who had bullied me as a child. They always said I would be a failure. That I would never earn my place in General Organa's service. If I knew then what I did now, they never would've had to apologize. They were right all along. Also, something about what Snoke had said was still troubling me. I just couldn't place my finger on what it was. Kylo and I were connected together because of the Force. There had to be more about it than what Snoke was telling us, even if Kylo didn't know what it was.

As if on cue, my chamber doors slid apart to reveal Kylo standing in the doorway. "What did the medic say yesterday?" He asked. "Dislocated shoulder. No stressful activity for a few days to give it time to heal." I relayed. "Everything we do here is stressful." Kylo pointed out, leaning against the wall. "That's what I thought. I suppose I could work on mind reading or bending the Force without my hands. Exercise the brain." I muttered. Kylo nodded, motioning for me to follow him.

Grabbing my weapon out of habit, I left the room, heading down to the corridor to nearest training chamber. Kylo walked in first, moving over to go sit on the ground. I set my lightsaber down on a table and went to go sit in front of my teacher. There was a calm pause before Kylo spoke next, as if the world was at peace and we were two long time friends enjoying each other's company. "Last night I thought about what Snoke said. That the Force brought us together because we are equals. Perhaps we should test that theory..." He trailed off, brown eyes searching mine with interest. I thought about his proposition for a moment. "Sure." I replied, staring back with growing confidence. Kylo smirked, "Good. Let's begin." He rolled his shoulders back, stretching his muscles.

My mind flicked back to the other night, when he had pinned me to the ground and scared me half to death. Despite the fact that he had unintentionally tried to kill me, he looked so attractive then. So mysterious. Pale skin coated in a sheen of sweat, black hair messier than usual. Dark eyes focused and determined. A few very unprofessional thoughts ran through my mind, filling my head with visions best left unspoken of. Kylo's voice brought me back into reality. "Try and take my lightsaber. Pull it toward you." He murmured, setting his cross-beamed weapon on the cold floor between us and holding his palm a few inches above it. I nodded, closing my eyes. I held a hand out, urging the Force to let me have his lightsaber. I opened my eyes, seeing it quivering excitedly, spinning endlessly in a single circle on the floor.

I glanced up, seeing concentration plastered on Kylo's face. Furrowing my eyebrows, I clenched my jaw and pulled harder. "Come on..." I hissed. Kylo was stronger than me, but I was determined not to let go. He breathed deeply, nostrils flaring as he tightened his fist.

The saber stopped twirling, shaking violently between us, sliding first my way and then his, and back in the middle again. Sweat began to drip down my neck and my head started to throb painfully, but I wouldn't let go. Kylo straightened his spine, glaring at the weapon in anger. The pull from him was unbelievably powerful. Minutes must've of passed. Both of us started panting, never breaking eye contact with the lightsaber. The effort was impacting us more than ever. We were engaged in an unspoken war, as if we were betting on whether or not Snoke was right about us. My body started trembling, my muscles threatening to give out. I could see and sense Kylo going through the same. I could feel the energy coming off of him in waves, raw perseverance burning deep within his soul.

But then something strange happened. Or at least, something stranger than usual. The lightsaber went eerily still, not even shaking. Just quiet and unmoving. Before either of us had time to react, the weapon shot out from between us, soaring through the air and into a nearby wall, and the lightbulbs in the room shattered. Yellow sparks flew in every direction, lighting up the dark, damaged room. Kylo and I both ducked out of the way, startled by the scene that had unfolded around us.