Let the Light In

Chapter 15: Intent

Chapter 15: Intent

Kylo Ren fell back onto the floor from his kneeling position, stretching his aching legs out and thoroughly relieved that the door hadn't been breached by any Elite. He lay there with his eyes closed, panting from the exertion of sustaining the illusion. This was not what as making his heart race, however. That was all her fault.

Rey.

She had certainly surprised him when she took him up on his previous offer, and Kylo had only been too willing to train her rather than split her mind with those...

He did not want to hurt her, but he had meant to be harsher. Unfortunately, watching her agonise over being in that chair, undoubtedly with memories of her Force terrors flashing though her mind...So sure he was going to harm her...

Kylo clutched his head in his hands, taking deep breaths to calm down. It had been a long time since he had ever purposefully wanted to soothe himself this way instead of kill half a dozen faceless grunts. She did this to him.

He could still feel her hand on his shoulder, still see her avoiding his wound.

Rey was intoxicating. She was powerful, she was raw, and she was kind. After everything she had been through, how could she still be so kind? Her eyes...She had looked at him in a way he hadn't seen in years.

But there was still a darkness to her. Rey's Force presence was so blindingly Light, it was a comfort to see the flashes of Dark that marred it, that she embraced.

Rey was beautiful to him.

If he didn't deal with her firmer- like a Sith would- He would utterly lose himself in her. Of this, Kylo was certain.

He moved to prop himself against the wall, a mock of what he had been like moments before, and opened his eyes to the dull stone of his chamber.

She wanted another lesson.

He had told her Force Techniques, but he supposed it would be fair to ascertain what she wanted to do first.

There was a single knock on the door. It was time for another of his own sessions.

Kylo picked up his saber, and with a flick of his wrist, the trunk was back in its place.

He would just have to wait for later before calling her again.

Making his way down the suffocating corridor, Kylo found himself eager. Not for whatever bloodbath the Elite had planned, but for pause to come. He wanted to see her again.

The Elite were ready when he opened the doors of the room delegated to Force-training. Rey was a far preferable opponent, even without the bloodshed.

Even on Starkiller, without any training behind her whatsoever, and an unfamiliar, strange weapon, Rey had shown just how strong she could be.

Yes, he had let her win. Yes, he could have spared himself all this contention if he had only leaned into the lightsaber lock just a little more, and let her fall. But Rey had shown the potential to be his equal, besides his predilection towards her.

In hindsight, he did not regret his decision at all.

The day would not be able to pass fast enough.

He was caught off-guard when an Elite broke free of his Force Stasis, and nearly ran him through the leg. The Elite in question now lay dead at Kylo's feet. He redoubled his efforts, drawing on the frustration of knowing she was distracting him, and thus making him weak.