Warning: Implied smut

The Falcon jumped into lightspeed, ripping through the command ship's shields like paper and vanishing before Kylo could say a word.

His fingers tightened around the hilt of his saber as he slowly extinguished it, still staring into space where she'd gone.

Rey.

When she looked at him, had she slowed down?

She hadn't, had she?

Why would she?

He tentatively reached out, like his uncle had taught him years ago, extending his mind into space, across lightyears of space, probing, reaching, groping.

And he felt her.

Once he'd felt a spark, now it was a fire. Glowing and flickering and dancing just behind his eyes. He squeezed them shut, only to open them again, because when they were closed, he could see her—Rey.

He could see her standing amidst the flames, shining brighter than the fire ever could, bright enough to make him dizzy.

Right. That was just it.

She was a light-sider. Her aura literally emitted light. Bright enough that sometimes, when she entered a room, he wished for a pair of sunglasses.

And he was darkness.

Dangerous, cold, black darkness.

Forcing down the unfeeling laugh that bubbled up in his throat, he turned and strode away, cloak billowing behind him.

***

Rey seemed...distracted.

Finn tapped his fingers on the metal tabletop in the Falcon, watching his best friend stare aimlessly out of the window.

"I'm pretty sure the First Order command ship isn't gonna appear anytime soon," he joked, trying to provoke a reaction.

He got nothing but a distant "mmm", but something in her eyes changed, as if the thought of the First Order chasing them was a newly occurring one.

Finn sighed, leaning forward and resting his arms on the table. "Listen, are you okay?"

She blinked, her head swivelled, and her eyes focused on him. "Yes? Yes. Of course. Why?"

He shrugged. "You seem...distant. Thinking about something?"

He'd apparently said the wrong thing, because her eyes glazed over again. "You could say that," she murmured, and her gaze flicked back to the window.

Finn instinctively followed her stare, but there was nothing except the endless black void of space. He stood up, bracing his hands on the table.

"Well, I hope you figure out whatever it is you're thinking about," he said, before striding out.

"Hey, aren't Jedi supposed to be, like...alert and vigilant all the time?" He asked loudly, ducking into the cockpit.

"Well, they sleep sometimes," Poe replied, flicking some switches on the control board, "I think."

"Well, Rey's awake." Finn slumped into a chair, spinning a full circle at the impact. "But she's lost in thought. No idea what about. Won't stop staring out the window."

"Jedi," Poe offered in a mock exasperated voice. At the responding silence, he sighed and swivelled around to face Finn, releasing the yoke. Chewbacca and Rose took charge of the controls without blinking.

"Look, she was just captured by the First Order. Probably wasn't a great experience. Maybe she's just tired."

Finn nodded slowly, not feeling his anxiety ease. "Usually she's a lot more energetic than this, though. If she's tired, she just says so."

"I know." Poe fiddled with his fingers. "Um, Finn."

"What?" Finn asked shortly, thinking about Rey.

"You don't think she was...tortured...on the command ship, do you?"

"What?" Finn jolted out of his chair.

Poe held his hands up in surrender. "I mean, if she's being spacey, she could be, I don't know, upset or traumatised about something?"

Finn stared at his friend, horrified. "Of course. That must be it. They would do something like that." He lowered himself back into his seat, fuming. "I'll kill every last one of those bastards—"

"Well, Falcon, look who's back?" The intercom interrupted.

Poe gulped, pushing off and wheeling himself back to the controls. "Good evening, General?"

"You only call me 'General' when you've done something wrong, you know that?" Leia replied.

Everyone in the cockpit released a breath of relief at the amusement lacing the general's voice. "Not at all, General," Poe responded with a grin.

***

It was nice to be home again. Rey blinked as she realised that the relatively small-sized rebel base on D'Qar had already begun to feel like home to her. She shook her head, reminding herself that it wasn't a good idea to get attached to anything.

And then she laughed, because she told herself that about everything, and got attached anyway.

BB-8 rolled up to her, beeped a greeting, and then rolled off again, maybe to find Poe. Rey huffed out a breath. That droid was one of those things. How on earth had she managed to get attached to a machine? She moved into the crowd, heading towards the main base without thinking. The hustle and bustle of the outdoor hangar faded behind her.

She walked into the forest, feet stepping lightly along the worn path and fingers fluttering from tree to tree. The forest was one of her favourite places. It still surprised her, after all this time, to see so much green.

All too quickly, the forest split away and revealed the main base. The metal doors were open, and people were hurrying in and out as usual. Rey weaved through them and headed inside, smiling at those who expressed their gladness at her rescue.

Leia was waiting for her in the main room. "I'm glad you're okay," she said, patting Rey's shoulder.

Rey smiled at the woman, acutely aware that Leia was the closest she had to a mother at the moment. "Thank you, General."

Leia glared a little at the use of her title, but turned back to the screens without another word. Rey followed her gaze and saw nothing out of the ordinary: out-of-date maps, stagnant trackers, and long-unanswered calls for help.

"This war has come to a standstill," Leia murmured.

Rey drew in a sharp breath. "D-don't say that, General."

Leia chuckled. "I did not say we should stop fighting it."

Rey laughed, hiding her relief. This war was all she had. Without it, she was nothing. And then she stopped, sensing the shift in the force.

Lifting her head, she locked eyes with Kylo Ren, standing behind his mother. Leia turned to Poe, speaking in low tones. Rey's heart twisted as she realised neither of them were aware of the other, yet they were standing so close.

"Rey?" Leia snapped her back to reality.

"Ah—yes." Rey moved over to the screens, only half-listening to the discussion.

Curiosity flickering over his face, Kylo moved closer to her.

What are you doing? She hissed.

When I touch you, I can see your surroundings, he explained calmly, placing a hand on her arm. Rey stiffened at the warmth of his fingers.

She felt his grip tighten as he realised where she was, taking in the people around her. Oh.

Rey should have shaken him off. What if he found out where they were? But part of her liked the idea of him being there with her. She could almost pretend that...

Rey cut the thought off before he could see it. She could feel his curiosity, but to his credit, he didn't press.

And then Leia moved into view, pointing at something, gesturing to the people around her.

Rey was not prepared for the flood of emotions and thoughts that gushed into her mind before Kylo tore his hand away, stumbling backwards like he'd been shot.

Rey kept her eyes on the screens, occasionally glancing at him. He was silent.

She looks thinner, he said eventually.

Like you care. The words slipped through her mind before she could stop herself, and she immediately regretted them.

Silence greeted her. And then he slowly reached out and brushed Rey's hand with his own.

She should not have blushed. But she did, flushing deep red in the middle of the conference room. A couple of people gave her weird looks, but didn't question her.

Kylo took her hand, gazing sadly at his mother. He had the same look in his eyes from earlier, when she'd boarded the ship and fled.

"There's no doubt that we'll have to move base soon," Leia was saying, "it won't belong before the...First Order finds us."

Even after all this time, the General still faltered at the words. Kylo must have noticed, because he almost crushed Rey's hand in his own. Rey squeezed back in automatic reassurance, lacing her fingers with his. A rush of emotion poured from him, and her breathing quickened as she realised what she was doing.

I'm holding hands with Kylo Ren.

I'm not objecting, he replied.

Rey didn't think she could blush any harder, but she did, turning the same shade as a beetroot.

"D'Qar is no longer safe," Leia continued.

Shit.

Rey ripped her hand away from Kylo's, but the damage was already done. He stepped backwards, wide-eyed.

So that's where you are.

"I'm a little tired," Rey announced, "I'm going to take a nap."

The other murmured farewells as she strode away as quickly as humanly possible. She reached her chambers, walking in and slamming the door.

Kylo raised an eyebrow. Interesting choice of destination.

Trying to ignore her heating cheeks, Rey faced him. "Are you planning on coming after us?" She hissed, "Because I'll warn them. Don't think I won't."

He hesitated. "Maybe I won't," he said slowly.

Rey recoiled, shocked. "What?"

"This war has come to a standstill," he said, and Rey felt like she'd taken a blaster bolt to the stomach.

"And?" She asked.

"So maybe I should leave you for a while," Kylo replied, lifting his shoulders in a shrug. "Even your General is skin and bones. You," he said suddenly, lifting a hand to her cheek, "don't look like you've eaten a scrap more than you used to on Jakku."

Rey's heart thudded at his touch. If she wanted to, she could now see his surroundings—his chambers, walled with black, his helmet tossed on the bed and cape slung over a chair.

His thumb rubbed slow circles over her skin as she stared into his eyes, which seemed a little lighter than before.

Is this some kind of seduction tactic to turn me to the dark side? She wondered.

Kylo smirked, but didn't stop, instead pulling her a step closer to him. Their chests were almost touching.

And if it is, is it working? He replied.

Had his voice always been so deep and sensual? Turning me to the dark side, no. His other hand slipped around her, resting on her lower back. Her breath hitched. Seduction, on the other hand...

His smirked deepened and he stepped forward, pressing his body against hers. Rey was panting now. Had she been running?

"Rey?" The door opened.

Rey stiffened, pressing her legs together. "Oh, hi Poe! I'm just gonna take a quick nap," she explained quickly, finding it hard not to stare into Kylo's dancing eyes.

"Oh, okay. Sorry. See you at dinner." The pilot left, shutting the door.

Almost instantly she was pinned against the wall. "You didn't ask me, but I don't think you'll be getting much sleep," Kylo whispered into her ear.

***

There were a few things Rey had never experienced in life.

Love, for example, had never befallen her during her time on Jakku. She felt it now, though—Poe and Finn were like brothers to her, and besides Leia, Rey had never known any other mother.

Lust, though, had yet to be ticked off the list.

But now, with her limbs tangled in her sheets and hair rumpled, Rey was sure she'd just received firsthand experience.

When she'd awoken, the bond had already vanished, and Kylo was no longer in her room. Rey was almost glad. She had no idea how she could face the man now.

She buried her head in her hands with a groan. Kylo Ren is the commander of the Knights of Ren, Supreme Leader Snoke's favoured protégée, unbelievably skilled with the Force as well as the saber, a terrifying dark force in the First Order, General's Leia's son, and I did what?

Rey shook her head in disbelief. She'd officially lost her mind.

She gingerly sat up, wincing at the ache between her legs, and made her way towards the dining room.

A/N
So hey guys! I just wanted to say that no, I do not write smut. Implied stuff like this is the furthest I'll go.
Secondly, yes, it is absolutely and definitely way too early in the story for Kylo and Rey to be sleeping together. Don't worry! This story will be having a proper plot and I'll be rewinding their relationship and taking it slower from now. I'd delete it but it's necessary for some small things, like establishing romantic tension. Sorry about that.
That's all for now, so I'll see you next time!