A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 7

A/N: if you are looking for some visuals, I created a Pinterest page for this fic! You can find it here - https://pin.it/6qSPxuo

 "Yup, it's me. Nice to meet you...?" Kylo replied sheepishly, popping the "p" in "yup" and offering a shy hand in her direction.

Rey took Kylo's hand and grabbed it, but instead of shaking it she led him deeper into the makeshift hallway framed by the stacks of hay bales to talk to him. They ignored Anakin as he struggled to catch his breath on the floor and made his way to get up, presumably to make his getaway as quickly as possible before Kylo changed his mind. Wise choice, Rey thought with a quick smirk before she stopped further down near the maze entrance. She turned to face Kylo, looking at him intently with big eyes and a weary gaze. Still panting from the attack, she took a deep breath in order to steady herself before speaking.

"W-what are you doing here? I didn't expect to see you! You should have told me you came or something. How did you find me?" Rey half-whispered with a squeak, stumbling over her words in her flustered condition, her face flushed and hair sticking to her neck with sweat.

Kylo took in her disheveled form and then glanced down at their hands which were still clasped together, giving her what he hoped was a reassuring squeeze before answering, "I-I... I was hoping to surprise you and your friends. Hoping to check the festival out... run into you. But then I saw him. I saw his filthy hands on you. He was disrespecting you and I lost it. I couldn't let him hurt you, Rey. I'm sorry... I'm sorry you had to see that but... I'm not sorry I hurt him."

Rey looked up at him as he talked but turned her sight downwards when he mentioned Anakin. She let out a big exhale and her shoulders slumped, her hand going limp in his and her bottom lip trembling. Kylo watched her with concern in his eyes, face soft, as he pulled her into him for a hug. Rey let herself be hugged by him, letting her body relax as she buried her face in his broad chest and started to cry - allowing herself to feel the emotions that had been pent up from just a few minutes before. Her body shook as she grabbed onto Kylo's lean waist and pulled him close. At her acceptance of his embrace, Kylo looped one hand tighter around her waist and brought his other large hand to her head to stroke her hair, his hand almost completely encompassing her scalp.

"It's okay now, Rey... well, it's not okay... But I am here, and I will protect you. I'm sorry this is how we met. I got you. I'm sorry." Kylo murmured at intervals into Rey's hair as he continued to hold her and pet her head. Rey slowly stopped her sobbing, taking deep shaky breaths to steady herself.

She pulled her hands away from Kylo's waist and pressed her palms against his chest, craning her neck to look up at him as his hold loosened around her to allow her movement. "You don't need to be sorry... I'm glad... I'm glad it was you and I'm glad you're here with me now." she whispered. Kylo moved his hand from her head to join his other on her waist, holding her in place as he looked down at her through thick eyelashes. He squeezed her hips and gave her a tentative and timid smile.

Rey returned it with her own small smile as her eyes took in his handsome face, her eyes scanning across to memorize every detail. Damn, this isn't the time but... he's hot. And beautiful. And strong. And he saved my ass. And as if it couldn't get any worse, he has those goddamn perfect eyelashes that are always wasted on men.

"Are you okay? What are you thinking about?" Kylo spoke, breaking her shameless ogling (not that he minded), his voice a low rumble that she could feel in his chest. He had noticed her eyes wandering about his face, a glint of mischief in them.

She looked away from his face and then back to his eyes, pursing her lips before answering, "You're going to think it's dumb. And really random considering what we've been through in the last few minutes."