A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 9

Kylo waited for his latte and for Poe to hand him his novel that was always tucked safely behind the counter before heading off to one of the sitting chairs, setting the drink before him on the table and settling into the chair with one leg crossing over the other. He just barely fit into the chair, angling himself to be as small as possible.

Kylo had begun to find that most furniture could scarcely contain his large body, and he vowed that if he ever got back to Hell and found a furniture designer in its depths that he would go above and beyond in making their time there miserable. While he wasn't usually one to torture souls, it was a job for lesser demons that took the time to study humans and their psychology (and not to mention that Hell was much more than just a place of punishment), Kylo would find the time in his busy schedule to dedicate to the worthy cause.

As he sunk deeper into the chair in an attempt to get comfortable, Kylo typed out a message to Rey. Hey. At First Order. Poe told me you were working in the back. Up for some company?

It was some time later, when Kylo had finally begun to feel somewhat cozy as he finished up his book, before he was happily interrupted by an incoming message (Rey was the only one who had his number anyway, so he never minded when his phone went off). Yes, please. Today has been awful. Come cheer me up!

While Kylo gathered his things, his phone vibrated again. He smiled when he read it: And bring a chocolate muffin! Or two. I haven't had time to stop for food.

***

Kylo walked in on a very distressed Rey, slouched over the desk of the office with papers sprawled about everywhere. He found himself entertained by the fact that she was a disorganized worker, and wondered what her room looked like compared to the rest of the house. He had yet to take a peek, hoping that she would invite him in one day herself.

The office gave off a similar vibe to the rest of the store, with exposed brick, a window, some plants, and wooden floors. There was a desk in the middle with two plush chairs on the opposite side of it and shelves on the far wall that were mostly filled with plants and knick knacks rather than books. A large rug covered most of the floor and the window let in plenty of natural light, making for a pleasant atmosphere, much like the general environment outside. Kylo felt like he was nestled snugly in a den-like place, and was almost impressed that Rey could get any work done without falling asleep on one of the sofa chairs.

"You look chipper," Kylo teased as he closed the door behind him and offered up the two chocolate muffins and a dirty chai latte to Rey.

Rey glared at him as she swiped a muffin and immediately stuffed it into her mouth, coughing a little at the amount she had bitten off. Kylo chuckled at her aggressive take down of the food, but felt oddly pleased that she wasn't trying to be proper or dainty around him. Kylo was glad that she felt at ease enough around him to just be herself. Rey swallowed thickly before replying, "I'd like to see what you look like buried under expense and inventory reports."

"Maybe I can help?" Kylo offered.

"Mmm... maybe..." Rey contemplated as she wiped crumbs off her hand and went on to shuffle some papers around. Kylo watched her intently, wanting more than anything to be of service for her. He had already made sure that the dirty chai latte she was partial to had been laced with a charm to help her become more focused, efficient, and calm. It was the least he could do, after all, at least until he fully revealed himself and the ring's true purpose.

Rey eventually surrendered to his helping hand despite her hesitancy and grumbling about how he shouldn't worry and he should just relax, allowing him to take over inventory and stock, explaining to him how to catalog everything so that she could then take care of the ordering process. Kylo felt honored that she trusted him to help with the process, especially since it had only really been less than a week since they had actually met each other face-to-face. Kylo plopped down on one of the lounge chairs, smiling to himself when he realized this might be the first time he felt like he fit into a sitting space at the First Order. Even the long booth with several tables was a tad confining for a demon of his stature.