A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 11

She absentmindedly touched her braid at the memory, admiring the intricacy of Kylo's work. For such big hands he sure could create a delicate masterpiece. As she snuggled deeper into Kylo's arms, hoping to leech as much heat as she could from his body, she heard the click of the door behind her. That was odd. Rey was pretty sure everyone was here by now, which is why they had migrated from the food and decorations to the movie area where the projector was set up. Rey sat up to look behind her before looking up to find Kylo already looking at the newcomer, his face set in an angry scowl and his eyes hard, no trace of the usual tenderness she saw behind them. She followed his sight to see Anakin standing there, still bruised and battered from his earlier encounter with Kylo, his face nothing short of fuming.

***

Before Rey realized it, Kylo had left his spot on the couch and stormed off to where Anakin stood. He could tell that Rey had followed behind him as he shoved an already protesting Anakin outside. Clearly Anakin had not expected Kylo to be here, hoping to make a scene and embarrass Rey or win her back. Anakin's thoughts were a jumbled mess as Kylo attempted to sort through them, hissing through gritted teeth at the smaller man he had pressed against the wall by his jacket collar, "I swear if you make a single loud noise and disturb anyone in there from the movie, I will end you. You better be here to fucking apologize, and you better thank whoever is watching your back that I have enough self control to not kill you right now in front of my girlfriend."

Anakin visibly blanched at the word girlfriend, obviously not having caught on to the fact that Rey was very much taken. She was wearing Kylo's braid after all. While she was her own independent beautiful woman, she was still very much his and Anakin was an unwelcome intruder into their happy bubble.

"Why are you here, Anakin? How do you know where I live?" Kylo heard Rey say beside him. He looked over at her small frame, seemingly trying to hide behind him while also standing somewhat to the side in order to look Anakin in the eye as she confronted him.

Kylo instantly regretted turning to face her, taking in her wide eyes and scared expression. He took in a deep shaky breath, knowing that sending Anakin to his rightful place in Hell right now would not be the correct response, even if he desperately wanted to. His hands trembled with anger as they held Anakin propped against the wall, barely able to hear anything over the pounding of blood in his ears and the rage building in his body. When Anakin didn't answer her, it took everything in him to not break him in half when he slammed him against the wall as he grit out, "She. Asked. You. A. Question."

Anakin's eyes went wide, fully realizing the danger he had put himself in by coming to Rey's apartment. His thoughts were scattered, running through multiple options with everything ranging from taking on Kylo to cussing Rey out to begging for his life. He decided that being a coward tonight would possibly let him see another day as he replied in an unsteady voice, "I-I... I'm not sure. P-p-poe invited me. I s-saw him working when I-I was looking... looking for you one night. T-told him I got j-jumped. He... He thought we were cool. I thought I could come a-and win you back or something." Anakin gulped as Kylo growled at his words before adding, "B-but clearly y-you're with hi-him now. I'll leave you alone. I-I swear. I swear, please. Please."

Kylo narrowed his eyes at him. "Say. You're. Sorry."

Anakin had to work hard to keep his tears at bay and his voice from cracking with how dry his throat had gotten. "I'm... I'm s-s-sorry. God, Rey. I'm so sorry. I'll... I'll never come here to see you again. Please. I swear, I promise, I swear."

Kylo felt a small hand at the crook of his elbow and he felt the intensity of his gaze lose its edge as he whipped his head around, his eyes landing on the source of the touch: Rey. "It's okay, Kylo. It's okay. You can let him go. I believe him."

Kylo looked between Rey and Anakin a few times before loosening his hold, but not before shoving Anakin one more time into the wall with a threat, his voice so low it was barely discernible. Anakin scrambled away the second Kylo's hands left him, and Kylo felt a small bit of satisfaction at knowing how close Anakin had come to peeing his pants. He could also tell from shuffling through his thoughts before he left that Anakin had meant what he said. As long as Kylo was around he didn't plan on searching out Rey any longer, and Kylo wasn't going anywhere.

***

Rey could feel the anger rolling off of Kylo in waves. It was palpable in the air around them, and while she knew she was safe from his terror, a part of Rey felt relieved that she would never see that anger directed towards her. Kylo was downright terrifying, his eyes dark and hard, his jaw steeled as he ground his teeth in frustration. When she reached out to him again, she felt some of the tension leave his body, and when he reached up to cup his face, his gaze softened as his eyes met hers. "I'm okay, Kylo. I promise. Are you?"

Kylo nodded, too upset to talk, and Rey pulled Kylo into a tight hug, feeling his body further relax under her hold. After some time, Rey felt his arms hug her back.

They stood there for a while, thankful that no one had noticed their absence or the commotion with the distraction of all the snacks, and how loud and enthralling the movie was. When Rey finally pulled away from the hug, she grabbed Kylo's face and brought it closer to hers, pressing her lips against his and letting them linger there. "Will you stay with me tonight?" she asked, her mouth moving against his.

This time it was Kylo's turn to pull back as he took in her features, eyes searching hers. He nodded and kissed her again before reaching behind her to tug at her braid playfully to break the intense feelings washing over them. "Let's go back and enjoy the party, Little One. I will always be here to protect you, but right now I want you in my arms while we watch Halloween."

Rey grinned over at him, pulling him back inside to where they found their friends still engrossed in either the movie or their partners. Rey had half a mind to tell Finn and Poe to go home at this point. Rose had moved from where she was near them to Amilyn, who was now comforting both her fiance and Rose as they both clutched tightly to her and hid their faces in her arms when scary parts came on.

***

When Kylo and Rey had settled back into their corner of the couch, she took out her hair band, placing it back on her wrist before turning her back to Kylo and asking him to take out the braid and play with her hair. Kylo agreed enthusiastically, kissing the nape of her neck before beginning his task, trying to keep himself from confessing his love to the beautiful woman before him who had just offered herself up to him in the most intimate way. He couldn't wait until he could speak those words aloud, but for now he would happily settle for undoing her braid, carefully unthreading his work between pecks to her shoulders and murmurs of love against her skin only he could hear.