Let the Light In

Chapter 25: Affinity

Chapter 25: Affinity

Fancy you dropping by, Kylo. Rey made every effort to keep her tone neutral, despite desperately wanting to know why he had blocked her out lately. Finished hiding behind Snoke's skirts, or did you just miss me?

Rey...

Rey supposed his tone was meant to come off as warning, but it fell short, far too gentle.

She shifted her warblade and staff till their straps ran parallel over her chest.

Or perhaps, Rey continued, letting her anger at his sudden abandonment and her subsequent dream seep in, you just wanted to 'remind me of my place'? Leave me to drea-

Rey I'm travelling to Korriban. I had my last audience with Snoke for a while. After Korriban, I have a mission of my own. I just wanted you to have a night of peace, is that so terrible?

It is when you have nightmares, she bit back, impressed with her own ability to keep her voice steady despite the surprise at learning Kylo was loose on the Galaxy again.

I'm sorry.

No, you're not. That was untrue, she could feel his sincerity, but she was far too jumbled where he was concerned and was going to take it out on him. And what about transit? Can't teach me then?

Rey trudged irritably through the tangled undergrowth and to the desecrated temple entrance, leaning on one large, collapsed pillar as she took the tumbled brickwork in.

Not now, no. He was dejected, and yet evasive. There's a man on this ship who would have all too much fun slitting my throat in my sleep-

Rey's calm broke, and she was sure he'd be able to feel her startled alarm. He quickly moved from that topic.

His voice was slow, and heavy- still hiding something- as Rey clambered and crawled through the caved entrance, and fell lightly on her feet in the antechamber thereafter. -But to answer your first questions, even though they were probably rhetoric-

She listened to him closely while she traversed the foyer, hopping from outcrop to outcrop and holding onto vines. It appeared that there was a floor below this, and the floor had crumbled.

I missed you.

Rey yelped out loud as she missed a vine in shock, and landed rather hard in the room below. She jumped up just as quickly and dusted herself off, cheeks burning with embarrassment despite no one being there to see, thank the Force.

Rey? Are you alright, what happened?

Oh you didn't see?

I just felt abrupt surprise. He was concerned again. Why did he always have to respond with care?

Nevertheless, Rey paused, relieved, and decided to embellish the truth a little. The floor gave way and I performed a spectacular face-plant. You would have been proud.

He chuckled at that, and it made Rey smile, regardless of her tries not to.

His laugh would be the death of her. Hell, his smile would be the death of her, his laugh would curse her afterlife. Yet for some reason, the thought of how he affected her did not bother her as much as it had before.

You didn't answer my question though, Rey. What are you doing at the Academy? And there his serious tone was back, and he seemed almost...scared? Good Force.