Chapter 54.

Darkness loomed...

She heard the familiar whispers she once had before her awakening...the whispers that tried to coax her to do evil biding... the bad whispers before the good ones came...

But this time... She couldn't make out what they were saying...

The whispers weren't speaking to her...

Rey woke up with a small jolt, finding herself still sleeping next to a naked Kylo Ren. The sun was still out, and she discovered they had only been sleeping for about an hour or so.

But as she rolled to face him beneath his heavy arm, she saw how uncomfortable he looked, worry and pain plaguing his gentle, sleeping features. His long, wide body was covered in sweat, his chest rising and falling with a big huff as his nightmare carried on.

Through their bond, Rey could feel how scared he was, and when she tried to peer into his mind, to fight these demons herself, she realized his mind was blocked off, as if his block was impaled right through their bond.

Worried, Rey reached to him, knowing she had helped him before, by calming his force with her own, by taking his dark and giving him the light that she harbored within herself.

The act was pure instinct.

But when her palm was nearly at his shoulder, his strong arm reached out, catching her wrist in a tight grip that made her gasp, her eyes going wide as Kylo shot awake, his breathing just as rough as hers.

Their eyes met, and for a moment, Rey thought he'd snarl at her.

Blinking a few times, Kylo slowly came back down from his nightmare, the slightest tension leaving his shoulders as he settled back down against the bed, his grip on Rey's wrist softening as he brought her hand to his chest.

Kylo's eyes closed as he focused on evening out his breathing.

"Don't do that." he warned.

Rey watched him, leaning on one hand. She tried again to press his mind with hers, but he refused.

"You... You seemed-"

"I don't want to talk about it." he muttered, eyes still closed.

Rey's breathing returned, though her heartbeat was still racing as she curled into his side, her head resting on his chest. His heartbeat matched hers.

"I've helped you before... It worked last time..." she whispered, hoping that he would just allow her to help him at least this one time.

"No." Was all she got in return.

Her stomach clenched with worry, knowing it was rare to see Kylo in such a state of distress. She wondered if maybe it was the city, maybe being back in the city that belonged to his family was triggering for him.

All she wanted to do was comfort him, to remind him that he wasn't alone.

After a few minutes of silence, Rey thought he might have fallen back to sleep from how still his body had gotten. When she glanced up towards his face, she found him staring at the ceiling, lost in a very deep thought.

Watching him, it occurred to Rey that it did not seem like he knew she was still there.

Rey moved up, settling her arm next to his head as she leaned over him, placing a soft, gentle hand to his face, tugging his gaze from the ceiling to her own. Her eyes searched his, trying to find answers, trying to find recognition.

"Hey... I'm here..." she whispered, pleading.

He just looked at her, emotionless.

Her brows furrowed. "What's the good?" she asked.

His own confusion appeared on his face, making him appear almost angry. He blinked a few times, thinking as he finally broke their gaze.

'The good?' his mind asked her timidly.

She softly nodded. 'The good stuff...Remember the good...'

He scoffed in his mind, his eyes darting around as he thought, his mind running around in dark circles, always coming back to the only light in his life.

After a few moments, he reached a timid hand to her cheek, the air cooling around them as he slowly came to, much to Rey's relief.

'You... Just you.' he said to her mind.

Together, they inhaled deeply, their minds heavy.

Finally aware of his surroundings again, Kylo snaked an arm around her waist, holding her closer as she settled her head back to his chest.

"Are you-" she began to ask.

"Yes, Rey. I'm okay. It was just a dream." He said, his voice returning to its usual deep tone. "And no, I still do not want to talk about it."

Rey scowled into his chest, pinching his rib before she felt a silent chuckle rumble through him.

"Still mad?" he asked, his hand trailing up her spine as she shivered against him beneath his touch.

Rey's cheeks burned hot, remembering that yes, she was still very much mad, but he just kept on distracting her...

"Yes, thank you for the reminder." Rey moved to rest her chin on his chest, meeting his eyes. He smirked at her, making her narrow her eyes at him.

His memory of her riding him in just the other room when he had returned home all but screamed at her from his mind.

She hissed at him, again attacking his ribs with a light punch.

"I'll have to make you mad more often." he said, his voice proud as his smirk turned into a lazy grin.

Rey would have quickly fired back, but she was too distracted by the grin she had never really seen before. It made her heart stop, and own smile played at her lips as her cheeks sheepishly turned pink.

Even with his teasing, the devil was handsome with a grin.

Kylo's grin slowly faded into a small smile, gulping as his lips shut, his eyes peering down at her but glancing away quickly under her studying.

Rey noticed his ears turning red beneath his wavy hair, making her smile deepen as she looked elsewhere, taking pity on him after she realized he had heard her thoughts.

Trailing her own fingers across his bicep and up his neck, her own mind wandered to their series of love making since they had arrived here on Naboo, her mind pressing the fact that she had uttered the three words to him in the middle of their passion.

Lazily, her eyes drifted back to Kylo, who was back to watching her, again hearing her thoughts and searching her face for the truth.

She blinked at him, a small smile still calling to him from her lips.

"That name you called me... in the other language the other night... What was that?" Rey timidly asked, her eyes falling back to her fingers that danced across his skin.

Kylo continued studying her, nothing but admiration in his eyes.

"Mando'a." he answered simply, his eyes soft on her face.

Rey slowly met his gaze, remembering the way he had spoken it, a whisper meant for only her, his voice equally soft and rough.

"And... and it means 'beloved'?" Rey timidly asked, her eyes searching.