Solo Dreaming (Short)

The Dream

The hum of the Falcon's engines had become a soothing constant, a white noise that she had come to rely on.
Rey couldn't quite bring herself to say that she missed the cold nights of Jakku, but the barren landscape brought with it its own lullabies—and she had spent many moons drifting off to the howls of sandstorms.

     Ach-To's nights sang songs of the sea—hushing and carrying her thoughts into a dark oblivion. In the short time she had been there, she had grown partial to the salty dampness of the air—finding the melancholy cries of gulls a melody she'd never tire of—

But the cool vastness of endless navy and stars, left her feeling queer in her bones—exposed. Were it not for humming engines and the distant audible snores of her fury companion, sleep would have eluded her.
Refuge was found curling into a firmly padded bunk with the crude child-like scrawl of "Ben" carved into ship's frame.

     On nights when the temptation of opening their closed line was greatest, Rey would trace the letters— imagining the young boy who penned them.
With each ritualistic sweep of her finger against the marred hull, she would recount the way his hand trembled when outstretched to hers—the way his flesh took on a warm rosy glow in the firelight —until her eyelids grew weighted.

Ben—

His hearing tunneled—as if holding a seashell to his ear. He felt the familiar magnetic pull to his counterpart—the sensation stirring in him a mixture of irritability and long-awaited solace.
"Now? Now is when you—" he began, turning round to face her, his large frame stilling at the sight of her motionless form. For a fleeting moment, Ren's heart stuttered to a halt in his chest—then swelled with reassurance at the rise of her chest.

    The remnants of decency left in him made Ren feel intrusive—but curiosity had always been his downfall —
his feet did the deciding.

Her breaths came in long peaceful lulls. The thrumming beneath the paper thin flesh of her neck stirred in him desires to choke out the life force within her—while inspiring the familiar urge to cut down any who would bring her harm.

She was sleeping in his cot.

He drew nearer to her then, feeling a warmth spreading and curling in the pit of his stomach and further—
Did she know?

Of course she knows.

His molasses eyes hovered over her soft mouth, her slightly parted lips incited in him a carnal response that Ren reluctantly silenced. His gloved fingers flexed uncomfortably at his sides, tingling with the need to touch her once more— before the opportunity was lost to him.

Gloved hand reached out, her flesh just a hair-breath away—then— hesitation. His fingers curled, hand retracting to his side as a bitter wave of resentment engulfed him.
Stupid, he thought. Was this worth it?

He stared hard at her peaceful expression, not quite deciding who the question was meant for. Seconds slowed into an eternity before he came to his senses.

Kylo Ren stole one more glance at his other half—asleep in his old bed, before turning to leave.

"Ben—" her voice cracked as if in plea. The hairs on his neck stood on end, breath held hostage in his lungs when the room charged and buzzed with her energy.

When she said no more, he cast a look over his shoulder.
Brow furrowed, hands balled into the scratchy blanket draped about her, Rey's heart pounded behind it's cage, an her mouth pursed.

She choked back a cry, wetness forming behind chestnut lashes . "Ben—Ben, please don't—don't leave—" a tremor shot through her small frame.

Ben's hands shook as he pulled them free of their entrapping's. The air felt cool between the sweat-slicked digits.
He didn't stop to think better on touching her—He didn't give a fuck if she woke in a fury. He'd take all her rage and all her hellfire for just one more moment—

Her hand was clammy as he slid his fingers through hers. The electric pulse that echoed through his marrow was enough to bring him to his knees, and  Ben counted on her eyes snapping open in realization—
Rey's hand curled in locking reflex, eyelids still at rest.
The crease between her brows smoothed, limbs relaxed, and her chest heaved in an exaggerated sigh.

Ben's mouth trembled at the contact, his heart bruising itself behind his ribs. He allowed his mind to meld and seep into hers, willing her to hear.

"Rey— I'll never leave you."

     Hazel eyes snapped open in a sleep-blurred start. Her body jolted upright, every hair on her flesh sensed an intrusion. Rey's heart pounded in her ears like an ocean beating itself against rocks. She had a familiar unsettled feeling as her eyes scanned the small room for a presence.  And although, in appearance, she was alone, Rey could not shake the warming sensation from her hand—nor swallow back the hard lump in her throat.

"Come back." she whispered.