Insight

Chapter Nine

Shaking. The hall around her buzzing from the tremors as alarms screech out. Red lights flashing wildly. She was running towards a specific destination. Tears streaming down her face. The tug in her chest feeling tighter and tighter, now almost painful. Pain. Absolute blinding pain hit her side as she crashed to the floor...

Gasping for air, Jade sat up in bed, her eyes wide as can be. She took a moment or two to assess her surroundings. I'm okay. It was a dream. This dream felt a little too real, though. She touched her side which was still sensitive from the 'pain'. It took a second before it hit her. That was a vision? Gods, I hope that was from the past.

Feeling the need to stand and shake off the feeling of what she just witnessed, she planted her feet on the cold wood floor beneath her as she made her way to the icy window. The storm hadn't let up, the snow was steadily falling against the glass pane causing ice to form. She eyed the clock, it was 6:30 in the morning. The day before was still in the back of her mind, the idea of Kylo Ren being kind constantly nagged at her thoughts. "Well," she began to speak to herself, "No point in standing around. Might as well get ready."

A warm bath was what she needed after waking to such a painful vision. As she sat up in the tub, she couldn't help but repeat it in her mind. Possibly the station under attack? How could the whole thing shake so furiously? She needed to tell Kylo. There was no telling what exactly it meant, but at least he'd be aware of it.

Cora had come in moments after her bath to get her ready for the day. Doing her tight braids once again as she ate the breakfast that was delivered. Still the same grey hue to the food. Once all was complete, it was 8 and they went for the door. "I will see you later on with lunch," Cora said as she nodded to Jade before leaving her at the front of her door. Jade smiled to her handmaid and waved before clasping her hands in front of her body.

The wait for Kylo was still nerve wracking. Although, this time, she was nervous for a completely different reason. Would he show her kindness again? What of the tight pull in her chest when she's around him? She then remembered, I need to tell him of the vision.

Loud, thudding steps were heard around the corner. Jade wrung her hands as he appeared in front of her, fully dressed with his helmet covering his beautiful black hair and kind face. A moment or two of silence before Jade broke it, "Good morning, sir." He nodded, acknowledging her greeting, and turned to continue to walk towards the training room. As Jade followed, she frowned a bit. So much for showing kindness. The man isn't much for greetings...

After a few minutes of stretching, Kylo Ren held two staffs in front of him. They seemed to be made out of wood, simply designed. Jade chose one and rolled it around against her palms. "Mirror my stance," Kylo said, as he got into a fighting stance. Jade nodded, copying how his legs stood sturdily against the ground and his arms were raised up, staff out in front of her in a defensive way. "Will you take your helmet off today?" Jade asked sweetly, looking up into the black voids that stared down at her. "Will you stay focused?" Her head nodded quickly, smiling a bit.

Kylo removed his helmet, placing it onto the floor near the windows. It was much easier to connect with him and understand him when he wasn't covered by that hideous piece of metal. In addition, he removed his gloves to better grip the staff. This caused Jade to feel a pang on her chest again. His hands are so...

He made his way back over to her, her eyes attaching themselves to him again, snapping out of it. "This is your first move. It's called a jab." The staff he was wielding pushed out straight in front of him, holding the same stance as before. Jade mimicked the same, using force behind her jab as it pushed through the air. "Very good, again." They did it together, synchronized with each other. "Without me." He took a step back, leaning a bit on the staff, as he gazed upon her. As she completed the move, she made a slightly aggressive sound that surprised Kylo a bit. He didn't know she had that in her. "Again."

This went on for a few more simple moves. She learned how to hit her opponent on either side, slice down onto their head, and knock their feet out from under them. They were finishing up with a simple turn and hit, but she wasn't quite grasping the move. "No, look. It's step," he brought his staff above his head, "slice, step, and back down onto them," he said, following through with the move. She nodded, panting for a breath, and attempted the move again. "Wrong. Again." Groaning, she tried it one more time, still not doing it correctly. She was starting to get clouded by her exhaustion. "Again!" His voice rung through the silent room with such force. She snapped her head back at him and stood up straight. "I can't!"

He was beginning to get aggravated before striding over to her. His tight grip grabbed her right wrist as he stood behind her. Cautiously, this time, his hand gripped onto her left hip bone. Jade gulped back a noise of surprise before her eyes softly looked up at him. His skin was touching hers. His fingers just barely brushing against the slightly exposed flesh on her stomach. "Step back," he spoke softer now, as his hand dragged her hip backwards while she stepped. "Hand up," pushing her wrist up in the air. "Step again," pulling at her hip once more. "Slice," he pushed her hand down with the staff pointed towards the invisible opponent. "Once more." He continued to guide her through the move, his hands never disconnecting with her flesh.

It felt more like a dance and less like training for a battle. An intimate dance of destruction and aggression. Finally, after Jade got the hang of the move, Kylo stopped her from moving and lowered his head a bit to speak softly into her ear. "Without me." His words sent chills across her pink skin before he stepped away to watch. She took a deep breath in before she completed the move perfectly, even putting a little passion behind it. A smile sprung up on her face as she spun to look at him nodding in approval. "I did it!" Now, he was smiling a bit, walking towards her to take the staff from her hands. "You did. Go get water, we'll end with a stretch."

Training was over for the day, Kylo standing above Jade, pulling his gloves back on as she laid out on the floor. The long hours of practice were exhausting for her, she had never moved that way before. Suddenly, she remembered that in the midst of them training, she forgot to tell Kylo about her vision. He was about to put his helmet back on to leave before she sat up and interrupted him. "Wait! I need to tell you something." His concerned eyes met hers before lowering the helmet, tucking it under his arm. "Tell me."

She stood slowly, body aching at every move, and took a few steps towards him. "I had a dream last night but it wasn't just a dream, it was a vision." His whole demeanor changed as he was now intently listening. "I felt shaking, the station was completely shaking around me. I was running through a hallway, hearing alarms and seeing red flashes of light. Then... I felt searing pain." She glanced up at him for a moment before continuing, "I know it wasn't just a dream because when I woke up, I still felt the pain in my side."

Kylo nodded, trying to assess what that could mean. "Could it have happened in the past?" Jade asked, sounding hopeful. "Nothing like that has ever happened here. Are you sure it was on this station?" Jade nodded slowly, looking at her feet. It scared her knowing this would happen in the future, knowing that she would get hurt in such a painful way. Tears started to form in her green eyes. Would I die like my mom? Kylo slowly reached up to gently grab her chin, pulling her face up to look at him. He searched in her eyes to hopefully get her to calm a bit. "If it happens, you will be safe. You have my word." A tear fell onto her cheek, which was quickly brushed away by Kylo's thumb.

Kindness. Jade didn't know what to do but smile and nod. She felt oddly safe with him. He wouldn't let anyone or anything hurt her, she was sure of it. "Okay," she whispered out as he released her from his hand. Before placing the helmet back on his head, Kylo paused and spoke. "I will get you tomorrow morning at 8, once again." The helmet went back on as Jade nodded, watching him take his long strides out of the room. I guess he's not good with goodbyes either.

A/N:
This was a bit longer than any other chapter, I hope it was okay! Don't forget to vote and comment :)