Warm night

The following days, Rey was immersed in her work. The black walls of Kylo Ren's apartment slowly began to be decorated with a picture of a space shuttle gliding down a corridor of light towards a burning flame. Rey worked diligently, pouring the emotions and questions that raged inside her into each brushstroke. She used bright colors for the light trails and flames, creating a dramatic contrast against the dominant black background.

Kylo Ren himself was out today, saying he had business to attend to. The apartment felt quiet without him, only the sound of her brush scraping against the wall accompanying Rey.

That afternoon, the intercom on the apartment wall rang with a soft but startling electronic sound. Rey was surprised, put down her brush and approached the communication device carefully. A small green light flickered, indicating a call from below.

A formal baritone voice came from the speaker, "Mr. Ren, we have a visitor named Snoke in the lobby. He wishes to come up."

Rey froze. Snoke? The name sounded foreign and threatening. She didn't know how to answer.

After a few moments of silence, the voice on the intercom came again, this time with a slightly impatient tone. "Mr. Ren? Do I need to let him up?"

Rey panicked. He wasn't Mr. Ren. What should she say? Should she admit she wasn't Kylo?

Suddenly, a deep, raspy voice could be heard faintly from behind the apartment door, as if someone was talking right in front of the door even though it couldn't be seen through the spyhole.

"Hey Kylo! Tell them to let me up." The voice sounded like the scraping of rocks. Its commanding tone hypnotized Rey into obeying its request.

"Mr. Ren? I'm sorry, but I didn't hear your answer. Do I need to-"

"Let him up," Rey interrupted in a choked voice, trying to imitate Kylo's tone that she had heard before. Her heart was pounding, she wasn't sure if her voice sounded convincing.

There was a brief pause on the intercom. "Yes, Mr. Ren."

Rey turned off the intercom with a shaking hand. She could almost hear the elevator starting to move up.

Should she hide? Or face it? Fear and confusion paralyzed her as the ding of the elevator signaled the arrival of the uninvited guest.

Snoke. The name suddenly triggered a vague memory of Kylo's conversation with someone on the phone that she had accidentally overheard. Kylo's tone was flat and cold as usual, but Rey caught a hint of impatience and irritation when he said Snoke's name. So, this person was someone Kylo had to deal with, most likely the boss of Snoke's biker gang.

As the elevator door opened with a soft ding, a rough knock on the door seemed to force Rey to open it. As if a puppet under his control, Rey opened the door. A tall and stocky figure with thin smoke billowing around him stepped in. His skin was pale and wrinkled, with horrific burn scars clearly visible on several parts of his body. His small, sharp eyes immediately focused on Rey who was standing stiffly again near the wall that was being painted.

"You're not Kylo, you must be his new girlfriend" Snoke said in a hoarse voice, his eyes narrowed assessing Rey from head to toe. The smoke from his body carried a strange, unpleasant odor.

Rey swallowed, trying to keep her voice calm.

"No, sir. I... I'm working here. Painting a mural for Mr. Ren." She held up the brush in her hand as proof.

Snoke snorted softly, his gaze still searching.

"So, Kylo hired a painter? That's not his style." He stepped closer, causing Rey to back away involuntarily.

"Where is he?"

"He... he's out for a moment, sir," Rey replied nervously.

"Some business needs to be done."

Snoke's eyes narrowed even further.

"Business? Or avoiding me?" He stopped right in front of Rey, his gaze intimidating.

"Tell him, if he thinks he can avoid me forever, he's dead wrong. The customs issues at the border are getting complicated. Lawyers have been in touch with me several times. If he doesn't step in soon and get the paperwork done, we could lose the entire shipment. The consequences could be dire."

Rey nodded quickly, trying to avoid Snoke's gaze.

"Yes, sir. I will deliver the message as soon as he returns."

Snoke studied her for a moment longer, as if trying to read the lie in her eyes. Then he smiled a small smile, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Make sure you do that, little one. For your boyfriend's own good." He turned and walked back toward the elevator. "And Kylo... next time don't let strangers open the door."

The apartment door closed, leaving Rey standing with her heart pounding in the increasingly dark and menacing apartment.

The smell of Snoke's cigarette smoke is faint in the air.

Customs issues at the border. Paperwork. Lost shipments. Bad consequences. The words kept ringing in her mind. She had to tell Kylo about this soon.

—

The next morning, Rey arrived at Kylo's apartment as usual, carrying her paint supplies. She found Kylo sitting on his black couch reading a thick, plain leather book. The morning sunlight coming through the large windows illuminated the dust floating in the air, creating a contrast to the dominant dark colors in the room.

Rey greeted Kylo awkwardly,

"Good morning."

Kylo looked up, closing his book and setting it on the coffee table.

"Morning," he replied flatly, his gaze searching. "Are you ready to continue?"

"Yes," Rey said, setting her bag down. She took a deep breath, nervous about delivering the news about Snoke.

"Kylo, yesterday... someone came looking for you."

Kylo frowned, his eyebrows raising slightly.

"Who?"

Rey tried to explain carefully. "A man... tall, thin. There was smoke around him... Snoke."

Kylo's expression changed immediately. The tension was evident in his hardened jaw. His dark eyes grew sharper.

"Snoke came here?" His voice was low and dangerous.

"Yes," Rey answered quietly, a little afraid of his reaction.

"He... he said he wanted to see you. He said you were avoiding him."

Kylo paused for a moment, his gaze boring into Rey, as if trying to determine if she was telling the truth or hiding something.

"What did he say?" Kylo asked finally, his voice calmer but still menacing.

Rey recounted Snoke's arrival, his intimidating appearance, and the message he had delivered. She explained the customs issues at the border, the paperwork that had to be completed, and the dire consequences if Kylo did not intervene immediately. She also related how Snoke had referred to her as Kylo's 'new girlfriend', though she was deeply uncomfortable with the term.

When Rey was finished, Kylo sighed softly, running a hand over his face.

“Thank you,” he said, his gaze shifting to Rey. There was a hint of tiredness in his voice.

“Thank you for telling me about this.”

Rey nodded slightly. A brief silence fell over the room before Kylo returned his gaze to the partially painted wall.

“How’s it going?” Kylo asked, his tone flat but no longer threatening. “When do you think this will be finished?”

Rey followed his gaze to the mural of a shuttle hurtling toward a fire. She had already worked out most of the details of the light trails and had begun painting the flames with varying shades of red and orange.

“Hmm,” Rey thought for a moment, weighing the time it would take to complete the details and final layers.

“If I work every day, maybe another three or four days. Depending on what details you want to add later.”

Kylo nodded slowly.

“No more details. Just finish it as you sketched it. I trust your vision.”

After a few moments of silence, only the soft sound of Rey’s brush against the wall could be heard, Kylo abruptly got up from the couch. He walked to the window, gazing at the view of the city that was starting to bustle with morning activity.

"Rey," he said without turning his head, his voice flat but clear.

"I have to get out of town. Maybe a day or two."

Rey stopped her movements and looked at Kylo.

"Out of town? Something to do?" she asked carefully, remembering Snoke's message.

Kylo turned around, his gaze hard to read.

"More or less," he answered briefly.

"Something to finish." He didn't give further details.

"You can stay here and continue painting. The key is with you."

Rey nodded slowly, although there was a little worry in her heart. Being left alone in this apartment, with all the secrets hidden inside, felt a little tense. Especially after Snoke's arrival.

"I'll call you when I get back," Kylo said, walking to the door, grabbing his car keys from the table, and disappearing behind the apartment door. Rey looked back at the black wall that was partly colored. She was alone again. And the curiosity and bad feeling about Kylo's departure were gnawing at her.

—

Kylo Ren’s second day out of town felt quieter and stranger to Rey. Without his cold yet watchful presence, the luxurious apartment felt more like an uninhabited exhibition space.

Rey remained focused on her painting, trying to push away the gnawing unease and curiosity. However, thoughts of the documents in the trash and Snoke’s visit couldn’t be completely ignored.

That afternoon, Rey decided to go out for a while. She needed some fresh air. She sent Rose a text and they agreed to meet at The Daily Grind. The familiar aroma of coffee and Rose’s bright smile always made her smile.

"Hey, Rey! You look a little pale. The mural work kept you up late?" Rose greeted as Rey sat down across from her.

Rey smiled thinly.

"Not really. A little under the weather. The apartment feels a little weird without him."

"Him?" Rose asked, her eyebrows raised.

"You mean Ren? He's there all the time?"

Rey nodded as she took a sip of her newly arrived coffee.

"Yeah. But he was out of town yesterday. He said a day or two."

"Out of town?" Rose looked surprised. "So suddenly? What's up with him?"

Rey shrugged.

"I don't know. He didn't say. He just said he had something to take care of."

She didn't want to tell Rose about Snoke or the discovery of the document just yet. She didn't feel ready to share such personal and potentially dangerous information.

"So, how's the mural work for the mystery guy going?" Rose asked, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"What's his apartment like? And what's he... like?"

Rey took a deep breath.

"His apartment... was huge, Rose. And it was all black. The furniture was monochrome. Empty, but luxurious. Ren... he was hard to describe. Cold, withdrawn, but sometimes... there was something else in his eyes." She tried to string together the right words without giving too much away.

"He gave me free reign to paint whatever I wanted, which I found a little odd."

Rose listened intently, taking occasional sips of her coffee.

"All black? That sounds so bleak. And he let you paint whatever you wanted? That's odd. But it wouldn't hurt if the pay was good."

"Not bad," Rey replied shortly, avoiding Rose's gaze.

She didn't want to talk about money right now. Her mind was still preoccupied with the secret she had discovered and the uncertainty about Kylo Ren.

—

Rey returned to Kylo Ren's apartment, continuing to paint the shuttle that was drawing closer to the flames on the black wall. The afternoon light was starting to fade, and Rey turned on the studio lights that illuminated the wall dramatically. She was concentrating on the details of the sparks when suddenly a low rumbling sound came from outside.

Rey frowned, thinking it was the sound of traffic. But the sound grew louder, and soon, she heard the sound of water droplets hitting the large window. She turned to see heavy rain suddenly falling, wetting the window glass quickly. The wind blew hard, shaking the trees in the distance and bringing a piercing chill through the gap in the window that was not closed properly.

Rey sighed. She had been feeling unwell since morning, feeling a little dizzy and her throat dry. The cold weather and heavy rain would definitely make her condition worse if she had to go home later. She remembered Rose's words about staying at Kylo's apartment if she was not feeling well, especially since Kylo was out of town.

At first, Rey was hesitant. Staying overnight without Kylo's permission seemed inappropriate. But the thought of having to walk in the pouring rain with her body in a worse condition made her consider the option.

Kylo himself gave her a key and told her to come and go whenever she wanted to paint. Maybe staying one night wouldn't be a problem, especially if she felt even worse.

With a little hesitation, Rey decided to just stay the night. She felt too weak to face the heavy rain and cold outside. She would make some hot tea and rest on one of the large black sofas.

—

After deciding to stay the night, Rey walked to Kylo's minimalist kitchen. She found a box of chamomile tea in one of the cabinets and immediately brewed it with hot water from the dispenser.

The warm steam from the tea cup felt a little soothing to her dry throat. She also remembered to bring some cold medicine in her bag. After drinking the tea slowly, she swallowed two pills in the hope that it would relieve the symptoms that were starting to bother her.

With her body feeling increasingly weak, Rey walked to the main room. The large black leather sofa looked cold but also inviting. She took a thin gray blanket that was neatly folded at the end of the sofa and lay down. Feeling a little shivery, she curled up under the blanket, trying to find a comfortable position. The sound of rain hitting the window was a calming but also slightly melancholic background.

The cold medicine slowly started to work, making her head feel a little heavier and her eyes more droopy. The warmth of the tea and blanket, coupled with the safety of being inside even though alone, made her feel a little better. Without realizing it, Rey began to feel sleepy. The monotonous sound of the rain and the drowsiness from the medicine finally pulled her into a deep sleep on Kylo Ren's luxurious black couch.

-

Rey blinked slowly, feeling the sensation of moving softly but surely. She no longer felt the cold leather couch beneath her. Her body felt like it was floating, and there was a warmth that enveloped her.

Rey's mind was still foggy from the sleepiness and the effects of the flu medicine. She tried to open her eyes wider and vaguely saw the silhouette of someone above her.

The figure was tall and sturdy, and a familiar masculine scent pierced her senses. Slowly, her focus improved, and she recognized the face that was looking down at her.

Kylo Ren.

He was carrying her.

Rey was surprised, even though her body was too weak to react much. She remembered the last time she had lain on the couch, the sound of rain lulling her to sleep.

Even stranger, Kylo's expression as he held her looked... different. There was none of the tension or coldness she usually saw. His lips curved slightly upward, forming a thin smile that Rey had never seen before.

"You fell asleep on the couch," Kylo whispered softly, his voice deeper and softer than usual. His gaze was fixed on her, and for a moment, Rey saw something foreign in those dark eyes - a genuine tenderness.

As Kylo lowered her gently onto his black bed, Rey noticed the faint blush on the man's pale cheeks. It wasn't a blush, Rey thought vaguely, but rather a strange... warmth. Kylo's breath as he bent over smelled slightly sweet and slightly sharp, a scent that was foreign but not unpleasant. Rey, her mind still foggy, didn't realize that Kylo had just come from somewhere and had probably had a few drinks.

Once Rey was comfortably tucked into bed, Kylo pulled the black blanket over her body. He was still looking at Rey, and the faint smile returned to his lips, this time a little more pronounced, though his movements were a little slower and less coordinated than usual.

"Good night, babe," he whispered again, his voice almost a whisper, with a slightly odd emphasis on the last word. He then crouched down beside the bed, looking into Rey's face with eyes that looked dull but full of concern. "I'll take care of you. I'll hold you until you're well again."

Without waiting for Rey's response, who was already almost asleep, Kylo slowly lay down beside her on the wide bed. Carefully, he pulled Rey closer, enveloping her in a gentle but tight embrace. Rey, in a semi-conscious state, felt the warmth of Kylo's body beside her and the sweet scent of alcohol mixed with his distinctive masculine scent. She felt safe and comfortable in that embrace, even though the nickname 'babe’' and Kylo's gentle manners felt very confusing.

Kylo hugged Rey tightly, resting his chin on the top of her head. He closed his eyes, his breathing regular and deep. The blush on his cheeks was still clearly visible in the dim light. In the silence of the room filled only with the sound of their breathing, Kylo fell into a deep sleep while hugging Rey who was also already asleep under the influence of the drug and the sudden warmth of his embrace.

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