I wake up early in the morning to something moving. Or, someone.

I had agreed to move into Kylo's room but I chose to make residence on the floor, as I didn't feel anywhere close to comfortable enough around him. Part of me was still afraid of him.

I quietly sit up, investigating the sound that woke me up.

I see the back of someone's head, a lot of curly, jet black hair atop the broad shoulders and black cape I'm used to. Kylo must notice the hitch in my breath as his shoulders go rigid again and he replaces the mask on his head.

My mind groans, realizing that I'd been hoping for the chance to see his real eyes looking into mine, and I'd felt disappointed when it was ripped from my grasp.

It's weird to think of someone so fondly when you haven't even seen their face.

"You're awake." He notices, his voice devoid of emotion.

"I am." I agree. The air between us is so awkward that you can slice it with a knife. We blankly stare at each other for several minutes when he decides to make the first move.

"I have work to do... there are some books on the table over there." He points, slipping out of the room as soon as I turn to look.

I roll my eyes and get to my feet, deciding to take a shower before I do anything. I may be locked in this room like a prisoner, but I'll never succumb to body odor.

I quickly get myself clean, catching a glance at myself in the mirror as I step out. Then, I look again, because I barely recognize the person looking back at me.

My skin has never been so pale, and my eyes are sunken into my face with dark bags underneath. My unnatural, ivory colored skin makes the normal scratches, scars and bruises littering my arms and collarbone stand out like buttons on a control panel. I feel pathetic.

When my breathing grows heavier I turn away for my own good, not letting my mind get the best of me.

I slip into a soft black sweater and pants, leaving the bathroom. I approach the table Kylo told me about, the one with books. My fingers run over the spines, reading the titles and picking the one that seems most interesting.

Old Jedi Tales

I spend hours reading the book, time passes without me even realizing it. I'm startled out of its old pages when the door opens again.

"Mali?" Kylo asks, and I raise my eyebrows at the mention of my name.

"Hello." I smile. I've found myself wanting to be kind to him, despite the horrible things I knew he had done.

"I see you like that book.. I remember reading it as a child." He relates, lowering himself down onto the bed.

"I've been reading it all day. It's so cool. You can use a lightsaber like these guys, right?"

"Yes."

"Wow." I shake my head. I'd never seen a lightsaber, let alone someone using it, and the curiosity and eagerness were eating away at me.

"You'd like to see me use it?" He questions, and I realize he'd heard my thoughts, like the Jedi characters in the book. I feel slightly uncomfortable knowing this.

"I don't mean to pry or make you uncomfortable. The words in your head fill the silence in my head when you aren't talking to me." He explains. I nod, deciding to change the subject.

"Could I see you use it?" I bite my lip.

"Of course." He stands to his feet, walking to the door. He walks out and waits for me to follow (not holding it open for me like Poe always had).

He leads me through the base, towards a basement. I keep my eyes trained on the floor so I don't catch the looks sent my way. He takes me into what looks like an empty training room, complete with dummies and mats.

He gestures for me to sit, and I make myself comfortable as he awkwardly pulls a metal tube thing from his belt. That's it.

He presses a button and it roars to life, and my eyes widen at the sight. His is different from the ones in the book; it isn't one single beam, and it's bright red.

He slashes at a punching bag hanging from the ceiling, little beads and fluff splaying everywhere in result.

"Did they teach you anything like that in the Resistance?" He asks cockily, turning his weapon off and crossing his arms.

"I may not have a lightsaber, but I know how to fight." I smirk. It's obvious and dumb of him to ask; they wouldn't let anyone on the battlefield without at least a little skill in fighting.

"Alright. Prove it." He's standing in front of me now, and I'm smiling with arrogance. There's no way I could turn down a challenge.

"Don't cry when you get your ass kicked." I growl, before lunging forward, aiming my hands at his shoulders.

He swiftly pulls just enough out of the way to see me fly past him, before grabbing my waist and tossing me like a rag-doll. So that's how he wants to play it.

I fake another lunge, expecting his turn away and calculating enough time to punch him in the gut. He groans, placing his hand on his side, and I take that moment of vulnerability to tackle him to the ground.

He lays on the floor as I straddle him, the two of us breathing heavily. And, before my mind registers what I'm doing, I reach forward and click open the sides of his mask, receiving absolutely no hesitation.

-

it's been too long!

I'm glad I updated and I hope you really like this, trying to dish out as much kylo action as possible:-)

and your welcome for the cliffhanger

ily

kait