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You watched in horror as another one of your ships was violently blown from the sky, the debris spiralling down to the ground mere yards from where you stood. Ducking, you turned your back and covered your ears, but you still felt the jarring impact reverberating through the earth. The resistance had caught you off guard. Five ships, pitifully outmatched by their twenty, were no match for their nimble manoeuvres and relentless gunfire. You could do little more than dodge, scarcely finding a moment to return fire. Amidst the chaos, you caught sight of Kylos' ship, desperately attempting to retaliate. His anger fuelled increasingly reckless manoeuvres; each passing second pushed him further into danger. You knew he had crossed a line when his vessel narrowly missed colliding with two resistance ships barreling towards him. Your craft had long since been brought down, and with four enemy ships closing in from all directions, your only option was to eject and pray you weren't shot out of the sky. Thankfully, they spared you, content with the explosion of your ship or perhaps failing to detect you on their radar. Yet here you were, stranded on a hostile planet, powerless as you watched your comrades fall to their demise in the skies above.
"You must engage hyperspace immediately; it's our only chance to lose them!" you shouted urgently over the crackling radio, your voice cutting through the surrounding chaos. The sound of distant explosions echoed ominously, each blast sending a tremor through the ground beneath your feet. Your heart raced as you imagined the enemy ships closing in, their menacing silhouettes etched against the fiery sky. You clenched your jaw, gripping the radio tightly as you prayed, he would listen to you, your pulse pounding in tandem with the frantic beat of your thoughts. You could almost picture him on the other end, the weight of the choice nearly palpable between you, and desperation clawed at your chest, urging him to understand the gravity of the moment.
"No!" came the agitated voice of Kylo Ren, sharp and cutting through the static of the radio like a blaster shot. "If we jump to hyperspace, we'll have to land on the first planet we see, and then we'll be stranded!" His voice roared with frustration, each word laced with fury, making you flinch as you watched his ship dodge and dive to avoid incoming fire. You could hear the tension in his breath, the weight of his concern evident. "
"I'm already stranded, my ship is gone, save yourself while you can! They can't track you through hyperspace it's the best chance you have!" you yelled back, no longer caring that you were talking to the supreme leader and letting the panic and frustration flow out of you.
Your only focus was now getting out of this situation alive, and trying to save the supreme leader, no matter how difficult it proved.
"Give me your coordinates," he commanded, his voice firm and unwavering even amid the chaos that blanketed the sky. The urgency laced through his words was palpable, cutting through the static like a lightsaber through the darkness. You could almost envision him in the cockpit, brow furrowed, gaze fixed intently ahead as he navigated the storm of enemy fire.
"No, just run," you urged, your voice filled with urgency as you fought to keep the panic at bay.
The silence that followed your desperate plea was deafening, a stark contrast to the relentless chaos that consumed the world around you. Only the distant echoes of explosions and the fading roar of Kylo's ship remained, a haunting reminder of the precarious situation you both found yourselves in. Your heart pounded in your chest as you scanned the vast expanse of the impossibly blue sky, searching for a tiny blip that would signify Kylo's survival.
After a brief, tense pause, your eyes finally found him racing through the chaotic sky overhead, the enemy ships zooming by like shadows of death, unaware of your desperate search on the ground. There he was—a flicker against the deep blue, a glint of something falling fast. Relief surged through you as you spotted his parachute, blossoming open like a flower in a hostile garden, guiding him gently down just beyond the line of trees before you. The swirling winds tugged at the fabric, sending it fluttering in a dance as he descended, a small yet bold figure amidst the sprawling chaos of fire and destruction surrounding you. You hadn't seen where his ship had gone down, but he would know.
Letting out a deep sigh, you looped your thumb around the strap of the emergency backpack you had managed to scavenge from the wreckage of your ship. Then pulled the blaster from its holster on your hip. You were sure that the Resistance wouldn't bother to make planet fall and look for anyone who had survived. It would be too risky, they had no idea how far out your main ship was. As though reading your mind, you watched as the resistance ships began to flash out of the sky. Each of them jumping to hyperspace. Little did they know that your main ship was a fair distance away.
You smiled as you walked across the soft, mossy grass, each step a gentle caress against your weary feet. After so many months, confined to the cold, unyielding metal of your ship, this lush, green floor felt like a long-lost friend. The rich scent of earth and vibrant green surrounded you, invigorating your senses as the sunlight filtered through the canopy above, dappling your path with patches of warmth. The ground gave you a delightful spring in your step, almost as if urging you forward, as you headed in the direction where Kylo had descended. You could hear the faint rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of hidden creatures, a symphony of life that reminded you—you were not alone in this vast forest.
*****
Well, that wouldn't be very nice," you replied, forcing a smile that felt shaky at best, desperately attempting to mask the unease swirling in your stomach. The certainty of fear settled on you like a heavy cloak as Kylo's gaze pierced through the expressionless mask.
"This is your fault," he stated again, the coldness of his words cutting into the tension between you. You had flown with Kylo many times, his real voice crackling through the radio; you'd heard it more times than you could count, but you had never seen his face, only ever the mask.
"Yeah, it's my fault that we are alive. You're welcome, by the way," you retorted with a hint of defiance, though your grip on the blaster tightened instinctively as your heart hammered in your chest. Survival mode kicked in, and your senses heightened, forcing you to scan the shadowy depths of the surrounding forest, searching for any threat that could emerge from the underbrush.
If he pulled his lightsaber, there would be little you could do to stop him from cutting you down where you stood. You were going to at least attempt to fight back, regardless of how pointless it would be.
"Look, we've flown loads of missions together, so let's just cut the crap, down here our ranks don't matter. The wildlife out there doesn't care who you are, to them, you're nothing more than a meal. So, we can either work together or I am going to walk into that forest and let you die." You said your survival instinct kicking in once again as the wind rustled through the trees and the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end as the eerie feeling of being watched washed over you.
The helmet turned in your direction, and for a moment, you were certain that this was it. This was the point of no return, the climactic moment where everything you had experienced, everything you had endured on this hostile planet, would culminate in a sudden, violent end. You had taken it too far, the panic and stress you were feeling was making you snap at the one man who could deal out a death sentence with just a simple flick of his hand. The weight of his stare bore down on you, a relentless pressure that threatened to crush you where you stood.
"Okay" he said matter-of-factly, he raised his hands to his helmet, and you frowned for a second, heart hammering yet again, before you realised what was happening.
He placed his hands on either side of his mask. A small click was followed by a hiss of air as the mouthpiece of his helmet moved forward. He lifted the helmet off his head, Kylo shook his head, his shoulder-length raven-black curls lurking in contrast to his dark reputation, cascading around his face. He dropped his helmet to his side and looked over at you with his deep, almost black eyes. His face contorted into a frown as he noticed the expression on your face.
"What?" he asked, looking less than amused.
"Nothing," you said, shaking your head and averting your eyes'. You walked in the direction of his spaceship and as you passed him, you mumbled, "Just not what I expected. " You had your back to him, so you hadn't seen his expression shift from annoyance to amusement as he smirked, shook his head, and picked up his helmet to follow you.
"What are we looking for?" he asked, placing his helmet down in his spaceship as he lent against the doorframe and crossed his arms.
The back of his ship was destroyed, but the cockpit was relatively intact. He might have even survived the crash if he had stayed in his ship. But that was far too much of a gamble, so ejecting from it was the right call.
"Anything that we could use to survive here" you replied, looking in all the cabinets and compartments that he had in his ship.
He didn't move, he just followed you with his eyes a curious expression on his face.
"Come on, we don't have much time" you said, stopping your frantic searching for a brief moment to motion for him to look too.
He stuck his tongue in his cheek and smiled, shaking his head before stepping forwards and opening the cupboard near him. He looked at it for a brief second before frowning, closing it and turning to you again, crossing his arms and frowning.
"You don't give the orders, I outrank you." he said in an authoritative tone, crossing his arms again.
You took a deep breath and then let it out in an audible sigh. "Look, I scanned the planet—it's beautiful in daylight, but at night it turns into a frigid nightmare." It looks positively delightful in the daytime, with the sunlight pouring through the green leaves, moss, and flowers covering the ground. But at night it all changes. It gets cold, colder than you've probably experienced. Everything freezes but that okay because all the plants here have adapted to that, the problem is: We haven't." You stopped to peer in another cabinet, then turned to look at him. "So, we need to find a cave and firewood. Somewhere to wait out the cold for a day or two until the First Order picks up our signal. Now, you can throw your weight around and remind me of your rank over and over until it gets dark, and we both freeze to death. Or you can help me because It's starting to get dark, and we only have a few hours before this whole place turns into a frozen hellhole." Desperation tinged your voice as you ranted, frustration over his naivety consuming you.
"No one's ever spoken to me like that and lived," he remarked, a playful tone undercutting the threat.
"I have a little sister back on the ship, if I don't make it back, then she will be all alone in this world. So please, God, just help me!" you yelled, frustration surging as his moods shifted.
He smiled again, watching you open and close the cupboards angrily, admiring the determination in your expression.
"Okay, cupboard up on the left there's an emergency pack filled with medical supplies and blankets" he said, vaguely, gesturing with his gloved hand.
"Okay" you opened it, took out the bag and threw it in his direction. He caught it with ease and slung it over his shoulder. "Do you have a blaster around here or something?" you asked, your eyes scanning frantically.
"Yeah here" he said, opening a compartment near him and taking out the same model as you had.
"Okay so that's it right" you replied, scanning the ship one last time before heading towards the door.
"Yeah" he watched you again with moderate fascination as you brushed past him, down the ramp and back outside. He punched a button, grabbed his helmet, then moved down the ramp after you. As his feet touched the ground, the ramp began to raise until it clicked shut.
"So why don't we stay inside the ships and wait out the cold there?" he asked, following you as you headed into the thick of the forest, he already knew the answer, but he was sort of enjoying the way you were speaking to him, he had never experienced it before.
"We don't have enough fuel to power the heaters and send out the distress signal, we don't know how long it could take for them to find us so we need the distress signal to go on for as long as possible" you replied stepping over a fallen log, frowning slightly wondering why he would ask something so stupid.
He fell into stride with you, and the two of you walked in silence for a few minutes as you tried to wrap your head around what the hell was happening. You were wandering around a forest with Kylo Ren, but he wasn't like the Kylo so many people had grown to fear, in fact, he was nothing whatsoever like what you had expected. But it made you happy, you kept stealing glances in his direction. Each time you noticed something different about him, how full his lips were or how angled his jawline was. You had expected a horrific creature to reside under the mask but instead there was this person, who if you dressed him in fine clothes could pass for a prince, not the ruthless leader of the first order.
"Its warm" he said in an attempt to make conversation, he had just caught you looking in his direction, and it made him smile as he had been doing the same. However, these feelings confused him a little, he hadn't felt this comfortable around someone for a long time, and it was almost like his body was longing for it. He tried to maintain his emotionless expression and authoritative stance as the two of you walked, but you made him want to relax.
"Well you are wearing plenty of layers, take a few off" you replied, glancing at him briefly before looking back to the endless green forest.
He smirked at your comment and shook his head a little, biting his tongue.
"Did you just tell me to take my clothes off" he said in a serious authoritarian tone.
Your heart skipped a beat, and you turned to look at him wide eyes and ready to apologise profusely and beg him not to shoot you. But instead of seeing an angry scowl you saw a small smile as he raised his eyebrow at you and flashed you a cheeky smile. You clenched your jaw in an attempt not to smile, but failed and shook your head, bringing your attention back to where you were going. Your cheeks blazing red.
You watched out of the corner of your eye as he removed his gloves and put them in his helmet before putting them into his bag. Then you watched as he unbuttoned his jacket. You took a breath and tried to turn your attention back to navigation.
You had got a little lost in thought when suddenly Kylo stopped.
"What the hell was that?" he whispered, you looked down to see that he had his arm outstretched in front of you in a protective manner and his back slightly turned to you as his he slowly looked around.
He had raised his blaster so it was pointing out in front of him.
"Run" he said, grabbing your hand and running through the undergrowth. He led the way as he dragged you though the forest, branches hitting your face and leaves tangling in your hair. You strained your ears to try to determine whether something was following you. The pace at which you were traveling and the amount of concentration it took not to lose your footing and keep up with Kylo took all the concentration that you had.
He stopped suddenly, the unexpected manoeuvre sent a thrill coursing through your veins, and as you stumbled slightly but managed to catch your balance. He caught you, and you felt the heat of his body against your own, a sensation that left you momentarily breathless.
"What the hell did you see?" you gasped, doubling over as a wave of nausea surged through you, the damp air heavy in your lungs. Panic clawed at your throat, tightening like a vice as adrenaline coursed through your veins.
"I don't know, I just heard something," he said, his voice low and strained, as his eyes darted around, scanning the shadows that loomed around you. He glanced back the way you had come, and for a split second, the forest seemed to hold its breath, an eerie silence enveloping you both. Dread crawled up your spine as if the very trees were whispering secrets, hinting at something lurking just out of sight, ready to pounce at any moment.
"Well I didn't hear anything chasing us, did you see it?" you asked, your breath burning in your throat and lungs, your eyes stinging with unshed tears.
"No" he said, grabbing his open jacket and flapping it open and closed in an attempt to cool himself down before giving up and removing it altogether. He ran a hand through his tousled hair, and looked at you.
"So it's entirely possible that the great and powerful Kylo Ren just ran from a strong gust of wind," you said, straightening as your chest heaved, but not as badly as moments ago.
"It sounded big," he breathed, his voice steady as he shook his head, rising to his feet with a relaxed movement. He casually slung his bag over his shoulder again, the tension in his posture easing slightly.
"Alright, alright. It's entirely possible you actually saw something," you replied, raising your hands with your palms facing him in a gesture of small surrender. "We'll stay vigilant; a planet like this must have some kind of wildlife, so let's do our best to keep our distance," you added, nodding before setting off in the direction you had been running.
"Wait" he said, and you turned to him and looked back down the way you had come, your heart hammering.
"Oh no, I don't see anything. Well, you just have some leaves in your hair," he said, his gaze lingering on you as he gestured playfully upward. The warmth of his smile made your heart flutter, the space between you felt charged with a connection that sent a shiver down your spine.
"Well that's entirely your fault, I lost count of how many trees I hit on the way" you said, your hands going to your head, your French braided hair was now messy and filled with leaves and twigs.
You scrambled to pull them out, wincing as you accidentally tugged some hair.
"Wait, no, here, let me help," he said, concern etched on his face as he stepped in front of you. His presence felt warm and protective. With gentle hands, he began plucking the leaves from your hair, his fingers deftly weaving through the strands. As he brought your braid around to the front, his fingertips brushed against your neck, sending a shiver down your spine like a spark of electricity. There was an intimacy in the way he carefully picked out the leaves and twigs, each touch lingering just a moment longer than necessary, as if he wanted to savour the connection.
He smiled once he finished. You hadn't realised you had been staring at him the entire time, completely entranced by the way his dark curls framed his face and how his lips curved in that charming smile. When his gaze finally locked onto yours, the world around you seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you suspended at that moment. The air thickened with an electric tension, and you felt a warmth blossom in your chest, that you hurried to push down.
"There now you look a little less like a crazy forest dweller" he said with a small laugh, his eyes twinkling playfully. He winked at you, making your heart skip a beat, before brushing past you, the heat of his body and the subtle scent of his cologne lingering in the air. "It's this way, yeah?" he finished, his voice low and husky, heading off into the forest.
You stood there for a moment, the corners of your mouth twitching as a small laugh escaped your lips, a light sound that mingled with the rustling leaves overhead. You couldn't remember the last time that you had laughed. The surrounding forest seemed to hold its breath, waiting, as if it too was amused by the unfolding scene. You glanced down at your tangled braid, still feeling the remnants of his gentle touch, and then back to him as he strode confidently ahead, his figure being swallowed by the dappled light filtering through the trees.
With a shake of your head, disbelief mingling with a flutter of excitement, you turned on your heel. The sun broke through the canopy overhead, illuminating the path ahead, inviting you deeper into the lush greenery. You could hear the faint crunch of twigs underfoot and feel the cool breeze brushing against your flushed cheeks. As you caught up to him, the faint scent of pine and earth filled the air, grounding you at the moment. It felt like a turning point, perhaps he wasn't so bad after all.
*****
You had been walking for a little over an hour in silence, the only sounds being the soft rustle of leaves and the distant calls of unseen creatures. With no more signs of the thing Kylo had seen, you decided to take this as a small victory, a fleeting moment of peace in the otherwise tense atmosphere. Part of you hoped that whatever he had heard was just a log falling, something mundane amidst the unknown. Yet, another part of you couldn't shake the chilling memory of that eerie feeling of being watched back at the ships, like a shadow looming over your thoughts. That unsettling notion was enough to keep you on edge, a tingling awareness heightening every sense.
Your gaze drifted down to the hand he had grasped so tightly when you both fled through the jungle. You recalled how his fingers had wrapped around yours, warm and slightly rough against your skin, offering a strange blend of comfort amid chaos. It was not just a handhold; it felt like a lifeline. You remembered how he'd delicately pulled leaves from your hair afterward, his touch tender and surprisingly gentle. At that moment, you were torn between the image of the man capable of such softness and the fierce warrior you knew him to be. It left you wondering how someone with such a capability for care could be perceived only as a creature of violence.
"It's growing colder," Kylo murmured, his breath a visible mist as the wind whipped around us, carrying a biting chill.
"It must be getting closer to dark," you replied, glancing around at the encroaching shadows. "I scanned the ground on our way down; it was difficult to get a clear reading through the thick trees, but it seemed like there's a cave just down this way." With that, you stepped up onto a moss-covered log, straining to see deeper into the forest in the direction you had indicated.
Your foot slipped as the moss pulled away from the log beneath you, and for a moment, it felt like you were about to completely lose your balance. Just then, two sturdy hands grabbed your waist, lifting you effortlessly before setting you down safely on the other side of the log. You looked up to find Kylo's eyes on you, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips before he let go and resumed walking in the direction you had pointed. You swallowed hard as you placed your hands on your waist where his had just been, an echo of warmth lingering there. With a quick shake of your head, you dropped your hands and grabbed the straps of your backpack, hurrying to follow him. As you walked, you couldn't help but bite your lip, your gaze lingering on his broad shoulders and athletic physique, drawing some rather bold thoughts into your mind.
You shivered as the chill in the air grew more pronounced. Glancing up at the leaves overhead, you noticed that the vibrant green light that had bathed the forest when you first landed was beginning to fade, signalling that the sun was starting to set.
"Hey I think I found it" you head Kylos voice called from a little ahead of you.
Pulling your gaze from the towering trees, you jogged to Kylo's side and spotted a small entrance to a cave, partially concealed by overgrown ferns. Your heart raced with a mix of excitement and apprehension as you knelt down, holding up your watch to scan the opening. The device whirred and hummed, its screen lighting up with data as you pointed it toward the cave. After a brief moment, it emitted a confirming beep, the sound drawing your focus deeper into the shadowy tunnel ahead.
"It's empty, the entrance is probably too small for anything that can't burrow in," you said as you peered through the small opening. "Come on, we need to gather some wood to help us through the night. Make sure you collect pieces of different sizes, and steer clear of anything green, rotten, or soaking wet," you added, wrapping up your instructions.
He nodded and set his bag down at the cave entrance with a soft thud, then turned and walked to your left. You raised your eyebrows confused, expecting him to protest yet again at your direction. A moment of silence hung between you, and you shook your head, realising he might have finally grasped the gravity of your circumstances. A flicker of relief washed over you at the thought; you were glad he hadn't tossed out a snippy remark about already knowing how to make a fire your way. The urgency of the situation was palpable, and there simply wasn't time for any further arguments.
Twenty minutes later, you both had gathered a sizeable pile of wood at the cave entrance. Kylo had used his lightsaber to take down dead standing trees with ease. However, it had noticeably grown colder, and snowflakes began to drift down from the grey sky. You worked diligently to drag the logs into the cave, moving back and forth, log after log. The entrance was narrow, requiring you to crouch to get through, but beyond it opened up into a spacious interior.
You aimed your torch along the walls, checking for any hidden openings that might let the planet's creatures slip in and feast on you while you slept. As the beam illuminated the rock surface, you noticed patches of crystals sparkling in the light. Intrigued, you smiled at their twinkling glow, imagining what they could be, maybe formations of salt or even brilliant diamonds. But knowing your luck, they were likely just quartz or something else that was beautiful yet worthless.
You stepped closer to examine the crystals, their shimmering beauty drawing you in, when an almighty roar echoed from outside, causing your heart to race. Your eyes widened in terror, and you spun on your heel, sprinting the short distance to the cave entrance. Dropping to your knees, you sank into the soft mud, your breath quickening as you shone your torch down the tunnel. The beam cut through the darkness, illuminating Kylo's face as he crawled toward you, urgency written all over him.
Panic surged through you, and without thinking, you dropped the torch, extending your hand to grab his as you helped pull him the rest of the way into the cave. He was heavier than he appeared, and as soon as he cleared the opening, you both collapsed onto the ground, the adrenaline still coursing through your veins. The low growl of whatever lurked outside resonated through the cave, sending chills down your spine as you lay there, desperately trying to catch your breath and gather your strength against the encroaching darkness.
A low, menacing snarl slithered through the hole, echoing ominously around the cave. Your heart raced as you sat up, eyes darting to Kylo, who was now rising to his feet with a tense readiness. Instinct kicked in, and you jumped to your feet, feeling the electric charge of fear crackling in the air. He motioned for you to stand behind him, an unspoken promise of protection, and without hesitation, you obliged, pressing yourself against the cold cave wall as shadows danced around you. Cast by your forgotten torch still rocking slightly where you had dropped it.
The sound came again, this time more agitated and furious, a chilling cacophony of scratches echoing out of the opening. The noise scraped against your nerves, each shrill tear resonating like a warning bell, as if whatever lurked beyond was growing restless and hungry, eager to breach the safety of your dark sanctuary.
"How big is it?" you whispered, dread creeping into your voice. "Small enough to get through the hole?" You gulped as the sound of shuffling echoed down the tunnel.
Absent-mindedly you grabbed Kylos hand.
Kylo raised his other hand, and a rock from the side of the hole began to scrape across the floor, moving ominously toward the opening. Seconds ticked by, and the scratching at the other end intensified, sending a chill down your spine as it felt like it was inching closer to you. In a surge of instinctive fear, you stepped closer to Kylo, your other hand gripping his upper arm, practically clinging to him as you watched the rock slide into place over the gap, your heart pounding with anticipation. It hadn't even occurred to you that he had just used the force to move the rock. The only thing you could think about was the fact that you were now safe from whatever it was that lurked outside.
Letting out your breath, you looked up at Kylo, and after a moment of hesitation, you quickly dropped his arm, feeling a flush of embarrassment rise in your cheeks as you stepped away from him.
"Nice job..." you mumbled, a bit of awkwardness creeping into your voice as you turned away from Kylo to face the unlit fire you had constructed.
Even with the rock covering the door, the temperature was plummeting with every passing second, as if the very fabric of the world around you was conspiring to freeze you in place. You dropped to your knees, breath fogging in front of you as you began constructing the fire, fingers fumbling around in the dim light, desperately trying to create a spark of warmth against the encroaching cold. Kylo stepped up beside you, his breath visible in the air as he watched you work, a slight furrow appearing in his brow as he observed your laboured movements. Despite your best efforts, it was clear that your inexperience with building fires had led to some haphazard attempts at gathering kindling, but at least some progress was being made.
"Hey, could you pass me the lighter in my bag over there" you said, nodding in the direction of your bag sitting back on your feet.
You looked up at him when he didn't move, a smirk playing on his lips. He casually drew his lightsaber, its blade igniting with a confident swipe, casting the room in a fiery red glow. He touched the tip of the glowing blade to the logs, and within seconds they burst into flame.
"Show off" you said, shaking your head and standing up.
He turned it off with a smile before throwing it on top of his bag.
"You're different, you know" you started opening your bag and taking out the blankets and emergency rations. "Different from what I thought you would be."
"Why, what did you think I would be?" he asked, half sitting half leaning against a large rock in front of the fire.
"Well, the way you storm around the ship and the stories people tell. I just figured you were a bit of a jerk" you said, as you pulled the last items from your backpack and then opened his, placing his lightsaber inside.
"You wound me deeply," he said in a mock-hurt tone, his voice dripping with sarcasm as he folded his arms across his chest.
You shook your head, refusing to glance in his direction. You had put up with enough of those looks, each one adding to your growing confusion and frustration. He probably knew the hold he had over you, treating it like a playful game to pass the time.
"You should strip off as many layers as you can and lay them on that rock to dry," you suggested, unfolding the blankets and tossing one at him before spreading two more out on the ground for the both of you to sit on.
He caught it, and you looked up and him, he smiled.
"There you go again, teasing me," he said with a sultry laugh, tossing the blanket aside and leaning back against the rock. He then playfully tugged at the hem of his shirt, slowly lifting it upwards. His eyes never left yours, a soldering challenge dancing within their depths. In a swift motion, he pulled the shirt off, baring his toned chest to the warm glow of the fire.
He seemed to want you to look at him, not cowering away or becoming embarrassed. You quickly averted your eyes, and you heard him shuffle around. He radiated a magnetic energy, as if daring you to gaze at him instead of shyly looking away. With a slight shuffle, he settled down beside you in front of the crackling fire. The blanket hung loosely around his shoulders, fluttering open at the front, giving just a hint of the toned physique underneath. It struck you then that he was wearing nothing but his boxers, the flickering flames casting shadows that accentuated the chiseled lines of his frame.
You shook your head slightly, attempting to shake off the effects of his presence before getting to your feet. Wrapping the blanket tightly around yourself, you began to peel away your wet clothes. The moment you stepped more than a few feet away from the fire, a wave of chill enveloped you, radiating off the cave walls and biting at your skin. You shivered as you slipped off your shirt and trousers, bundling them in your arms before drawing the blanket closer for warmth.
With a wince, you placed your damp clothes on the rock beside Kylo, the thought of putting them back on after a day soaked in sweat, humidity, and snow making you grimace. You returned to the fire, ensuring the blanket was snug around you, and chose a spot on the opposite side, glancing at Kylo from across the flickering flames.
You watched the mesmerising flames dance before you, the light flickering in rhythm with the crackling wood. Every so often, a damp piece of timber would pop, sending tiny fragments of glowing ash spiralling up into the air. As you gazed through the flames, your eyes locked onto Kylo's; he, too, was lost in the fiery depths.
His broad shoulders peeked out from under the blanket, and the firelight accentuated the sculpted contours of his face. The flickering flames played in his deep-set eyes, making them appear almost to glow while he clenched his jaw.
"What's the matter?" you whispered, your voice breaking the silence of the cave.
His eyes shot from the fire to meet yours, and you drew in a quick, small breath. They were intense, dark like the night sky, yet held an inviting warmth.
"Sorry." You whispered, looking down at the dirt on your side of the fire, you had been absent-mindedly doodling in it with a stick.
"No it's okay, I just... I've never really done something like this" he turned his gaze back to the fire and bit the inside of his cheek.
He shifted to sit cross-legged on the floor, his forearms resting on his thighs, the blanket slipping down slightly to reveal more of his physique. His broad shoulders were well-defined, and the contours of his toned arms hinted at strength, while the light from the fire accentuated the sculpted lines of his chest and abdomen, giving a tantalising glimpse of his powerful frame beneath the fabric.
"What do you mean by that?" you replied, a hint of confusion in your voice.
He glanced up at you, causing you to shyly avert your gaze once more.
"Look don't worry, I'm not going to tell anyone that you to order from someone beneath you and sat around a campfire in nothing but your underwear" you said with a small uneasy laugh. "I wouldn't be surprised if the moment the first order arrive you kill me and leave" you continued now stabbing at the ground with a stick and clenching your jaw.
"Is that what you think of me? That I value life so little that I would kill you even though you're the reason I'm alive?" he asked, his voice was deep and alluring, but it almost seemed hurt.
"Well I've flown and fought alongside you for a long time, I've seen the sort of things that you do how angry you get over the smallest of things, so yeah. That's the Kylo Ren that you let the world see..." you looked up to meet his eye which were trained on you and stopped, his stare making you feel uneasy.
His eyes scanned your face as he tilted his head to the side, silently urging you to go on.
"Look, I promise that I won't mention the events that have happened today to anyone, as soon as we get off this godforsaken planet you can go back to being the supreme leader and me a pilot, and we never have to talk or cross paths again," you said looking back at the fire.
You heard him shift, and then he settled down beside you, sitting cross-legged with the blanket bundled in his lap. As he turned his head towards you, the firelight danced across his sharp jawline and his deep-set eyes, highlighting the intensity in his gaze. There was an irresistible charm about him that made it difficult to look away—a rugged handsomeness that seemed to radiate warmth in the dim light.
"I don't want to forget about this, and I would rather not stop talking to you," he said in a soft whisper, his voice rich and resonant, with a throaty quality that sent a shiver down your spine. It had a warmth to it, making every word he spoke feel electric and deeply intimate..
"You know I mean what I said earlier, you really are different to what I expected" You placed your elbow on your knee and rested your head in your hand, hoping to steer the conversation in a different direction.
"Good different or bad different?" he asked, turning his head towards you with a small smile.
"Good different, I thought you were utterly terrifying, but you are actually quite nice" you said, returning his smile and returning your gaze to the fire.
"Well I need to keep the first order in line" he said, his eyes studying your face. "And you're different too"
You turned to look at him, suddenly feeling shy under his gaze.
"Huh, did the grumpy supreme leader just almost give me a compliment?" you laughed, your cheeks flushing slightly at the unexpected turn of events.
He laughed, the sound warm and inviting. You couldn't help but feel a little shy under his gaze, so you turned your attention back to the fire. But then you heard him move, and suddenly, he was sitting right next to you, his strong presence causing your heart to flutter in your chest.
"I don't think I can do that" he said, your heart dropped a little. "Every time your eyes meet mine, it's like I forget how to talk" you turned back towards him and frowned.
"See just like that" he said with a small smile as he shook his head, his eyes shifting from yours to your lips and then slowly back again.
You swallowed hard, suddenly aware of just how close your faces were, the heat between you palpable and electrifying, making your heart race wildly in your chest.
"Every time I look at you, I just want to do this." He said, closing the distance and placing a small kiss on your lips before pulling away.
You drew in a quick breath, your gaze flickering from his intense eyes to his inviting lips. The moment hung thick with tension, and his quickened breaths only heightened the electricity in the air between you. Unable to resist, you leaned in, your lips brushing softly against his, igniting a spark that sent shivers down your spine. This kiss was different—deeper, more urgent. You didn't pull away this time; instead, you melted into him, feeling the warmth of his strong arms wrapping around your waist, pulling you closer as though you were meant to fit perfectly together.
The world around you faded, leaving only the sensation of his mouth moving against yours, crafting a connection tinged with longing and desire. The kiss deepened, full of passion, each moment fuelling the fire building between you. You felt the blanket slip off your shoulders, the fabric falling away as his hands guided yours up to his chest, where you could feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath your palm, a rhythmic reminder of the undeniable chemistry igniting in the space between you.
You realised that I was likely a long time since he had been touched or had any sort of human companionship. You let your hand wandered over his chest gently. Your other hand wandered down his jawline and then round to the back of his neck, pulling him closer. One of his hands was on your waist and the other moved to cup your face. You began to grind against him, and he drew in a quick breath, drawing away from the kiss for a moment. Before coming back in stronger and more needy than before.
Next to you the fire crackled and popped as your hands wandered each other's bodies, his hand slowly made its way to the edge of the blanket, slowly pulling it off you. Then his right hand moved downwards and cupped your butt as suddenly in one fluid motion he lifted you off his lap, upwards so he was kneeling before slowly laying you down. His hand ran from your but down the outside of your thigh as you wrapped your legs around him as he placed kisses down your neck.
Next to you, the fire crackled and popped as your hands explored each other's bodies. His hand gradually traveled to the edge of the blanket, gently pulling it away from you. Then, with a swift but smooth motion, he cupped your butt, lifting you off his lap and kneeling before you. He laid you back down slowly, his touch lingering as his hand glided from your butt down the outside of your thigh. You instinctively wrapped your legs around him, feeling the heat radiate between you as he placed soft, teasing kisses along your neck.
"Tease" you breathed, moving his face back to yours and looking into his dark eyes as you bit your lip.
He gazed at you with a warm smile, his eyes reflecting a depth of warmth, before leaning in to place another tender kiss on your lips.
"You've been in charge all day; now it's my turn," he whispered, his voice low and rough, sending shivers racing down your spine as you instinctively bucked your hips toward him. His fingers danced teasingly over the clasp of your bra.