Chapter Text
Ned doesn't receive a response to his text but it doesn't even take half an hour before there's another knock on his door.
Kylo looks like he hasn't slept a wink, his eyes puffy and red and his hair tangled. There's a deep slash across his cheek, and it doesn’t appear to be healing well. His shirt has a blood stain near the torn collar and his pants have a hole slashed in them on his thigh, with a cut on the visible skin too.
“Hi,” Kylo greets him softly. It seems like he's restraining himself from embracing Ned.
Ned is holding himself back, too, trying to contain his emotional reaction until his logical side gets a chance.
“What did he do to you?” Ned tugs him inside then arms both door locks, ushering Kylo to the couch.
“So you read it?” Kylo doesn't answer his question, looking up at Ned, his eyes pleading.
“Kylo,” Ned admonishes.
He relents, averting his eyes. “Snoke sent someone after me. They smashed my window in the middle of the night but I fought them off and ran out the fire escape. He's obviously grasping at straws without me, though. This new guy did a terrible job. I had time to tie my shoes and grab my backpack.”
“When was this? Did you call the police?” Ned pleads.
“It was Wednesday. After I ran the headline to expose him,” Kylo explains. “I don't trust police. Plus, Snoke's probably got an insider there too.”
“That was three days ago!” Ned exclaims. “Where have you been?”
Kylo doesn’t answer, just looks at his clasped hands in his lap.
“Kylo. Please,” Ned begs, taking a seat next to him.
Kylo wrings his hands together. “Shelters. Benches. You know. The places you go after you've burned your last bridge out from underneath you.”
“Jesus christ, Kylo,” Ned grimaces.
Kylo shrugs. “It's nothing I haven't done before.”
“I know, and I want to help you. And I want to trust you, but…” Ned trails off, Mare’s words about bad people taking advantage haunting him.
Kylo looks like Ned had slapped him. “I know I've given you every reason not to trust me. But I gave you all the evidence I have. Everything. On Snoke and also on me.”
They sit in silence for a moment before Kylo reaches for his backpack. “Actually, there's one more thing.”
Ned stares quizzically as Kylo unearths a copy of Red Dead Redemption from the depths of his bag.
But there's no disc inside when Kylo pops the plastic case open. He empties it gingerly, setting the fragile newspaper clippings on the coffee table and sliding them in front of Ned.
Arrests made in sting of local methamphetamine trafficking ring after public pressure to reduce local drug problem
Two mugshots are printed in faded black and white, but one of them is unmistakably a young Kylo. It’s captioned Benjamin Solo.
There are three more clippings.
Local meth dealers being tried as adults, facing 10+ years in prison.
Suspect in local drug trafficking case no-shows court date after bail. Parkersburg PD received tip of potential spotting, but no credible leads.
Lastly, there’s a clip of a “Wanted” section, featuring the same mugshot. Benjamin Solo: Wanted for trafficking of methamphetamine and assault of a police officer.
Kylo presses up against his side from where they sit on the couch but averts his eyes, giving him time to read the articles. Ned’s heart is pounding as he takes it all in. He feels his eyes start to well with tears again. Kylo was just a kid. A literal child. Failed by the system; failed by everyone. Taken advantage of by terrible people.
“Thank you for showing this to me.” Ned breaks the silence, although quietly. “It couldn’t have been easy.”
“I'll help you write the article and then I'll be out of your hair,” Kylo wrings his hands together so hard they're turning white. “I'll arrange for protection for you and the staff until Snoke is in prison. Then you'll never have to see me again. I promise.”
“That's not what I want.” Ned blurts out.
“I can go, then,” Kylo says quietly, his voice breaking, and starts to collect his things. “You have everything you need to take down Snoke. You can take me down too. I deserve it.”
“No.” Ned grabs Kylo’s wrist before he picks up the clippings.
“No?” Kylo turns to look at him, sounding hopeful for the first time.
“I want you to stay,” Ned says, hoping he sounds confident. He's not going to be another user that abandons Kylo when they're done with him. And, selfishly, getting fucked by a ridiculously attractive person is enticing as well.
“I’ll stay to write the article if that's what you want,” Kylo replies, still looking tentative and stiff as he sits back down on the couch.
“I want you to stay after that, too,” Ned declares. “In Toledo. With us.”
“Oh,” Kylo's voice cracks. “Wow, that's…”
Ned pulls Kylo onto his lap and into his embrace, tipping his chin up to kiss him. Kylo rests his head on Ned’s shoulder, several days’ worth of scruff prickling at his neck. Ned rubs his back in soothing circles, feeling the rhythmic rise and fall of Kylo’s chest against his own.
Kylo rests his hand on Ned's chest, right over his heart, rubbing his thumb back and forth. Ned combs his hand through Kylo's hair, working through the tangles and massaging his scalp.
“I thought I might never see you again,” Kylo chokes out. “I'm so sorry.”
“At first I thought you… used me,” Ned admits, and he feels Kylo stiffen in his embrace. “But I realized it was Snoke you betrayed, just like you said.”
“I almost ruined everything,” Kylo whispers. “I would never have forgiven myself.”
Ned presses a kiss to the top of Kylo's head. “But you didn't, and I understand now. And I forgive you.”
Kylo cuddles up tighter against him. “I don't deserve it, but thank you.”
They sit in silence until Kylo grows restless from the odd position.
“Want to get cleaned up?” Ned asks softly, and Kylo nods.
Ned hears the shower start while he’s grabbing two sets of clean clothes and he pokes his head through the cracked door. Kylo’s discarded shirt is tossed in the corner and he’s inspecting the new injuries in the mirror.
He smiles when he sees Ned enter, the first smile Ned’s seen today, and pulls off his remaining clothes.
“You coming?” Kylo looks back as Ned ogles the muscular, naked form entering his shower. Sensing Ned’s hesitation, he adds, “You look just as bad as me, dude.”
Ned glances in the mirror, and he’s not wrong. He hasn’t washed his hair since Mare was here last, the dark circles under his eyes are just as prominent, and he really needs to shave.
The pile of clothing grows before Ned steps into the shower, recoiling at the frigid spray and almost tripping over the shower threshold. “What the fuck?”
“It’s good for the mind and body.” Kylo lets the water run over his whole body, soaking his hair and skin.
“That’s such bullshit. Cold shower people are full of shit,” Ned grumbles.
"Wimp," Kylo mutters, but he smirks at Ned and pulls him inside after he adjusts the temperature.
It’s still not as warm as Ned would like but he’s enveloped in Kylo’s embrace and everything else fades away.
Ned runs his hands over Kylo’s chest, his shoulders, then down his back and sides, feeling the skin underneath the running water.
“I missed you,” he whispers. "Even when I thought... even when things went wrong, I still missed you."
Kylo kisses him again and starts massaging shampoo into Ned’s hair. “I missed you too. I punched a hole in the fucking wall when I thought I might never get to make things right with you."
Ned snorts. "It's Softees' problem now."
He revels in the soothing strokes of Kylo's fingers on his scalp but Ned realizes he should probably be the one helping Kylo and not the other way around, so he works a generous amount of conditioner into Kylo's hair and finishes detangling it.
Once they're both clean Kylo gives him a searing kiss and gently backs Ned up against the wall. Ned kisses back eagerly, running his hands over everything he can reach. He starts to dip a finger between Kylo's legs from the back, eliciting a moan that goes straight to his cock as Kylo grinds against him.
Their kiss is sloppy, mostly moaning into each other's mouths, when Kylo takes them both in his hand, starting with slow strokes that leave Ned begging for more.
Ned teases Kylo’s rim some more, dragging a finger across his perineum, and feels the strokes intensify along with the noises Kylo is making.
God, he missed this.
“Want you inside me,” Kylo whispers against his mouth as he pins Ned up against the shower wall.
“Yes,” is all that Ned can produce at the moment.
Ned uses his last brain cell to grab his bottle of shower lube, now almost empty, and slicks up his fingers. Kylo turns to face the wall, extending his arms upward and angling his ass out towards Ned.
Before he gets down to business, Ned takes a moment just to stare. Kylo looks stunning, muscles flexing to hold himself in position, broad shoulders and strong legs all his for the taking.
“So beautiful,” Ned murmurs as he moves in, and Kylo whines happily and pushes back against him.
He watches Kylo writhe and moan while Ned fingers him, Ned’s free arm resting on Kylo’s hip. Scissoring and bending his fingers in the way he's learned drives Kylo crazy, Ned selfishly makes Kylo beg for it.
“Ned, please,” Kylo moans, swatting Ned's hand away.
“Please what?” Ned teases.
“Please fuck me, I need you,” Kylo moans.
He isn't going to say no to that invitation, so Ned lubes himself up, stroking himself until he's fully hard again as Kylo waits, whimpering. Kylo lets out a deep groan as Ned pushes in. Ned wraps his arms around him, slowly filling him all the way and starting to move gently.
Ned loses himself in it, the tight heat and the desperate moans and the gorgeous man currently thrusting himself onto Ned's cock.
He tries to draw it out but can't muster up the willpower, gripping Kylo’s hips so hard the bones are hurting his fingers. Ned feels himself starting to lose control. He tugs Kylo’s hair and Kylo cries out, clenching down on Ned and sending him over the edge.
Frantically, Ned pulls out and works himself through it, letting come splatter over Kylo’s lower back, dripping down over his ass while Kylo strokes himself, breathing harshly.
Ned hears the moan that's been seared into his memory as Kylo comes, who then turns himself around, leaning against the tiles of the wall, a sappy grin plastered across his face.
Kylo clings to him, almost limp in his arms, as Ned washes up Kylo's hands and his back and cleans both of them up one last time.
Ned grimaces as Kylo shakes his hair out like a dog, hearing the droplets splatter the shower tiles, quickly exiting and grabbing a towel. Kylo follows and vigorously towels off his hair before slinging the towel around his waist. Ned sighs. What an animal.
Kylo’s chocolatey eyes stare at him, almost disconcertingly, while Ned dabs some ointment on the new slash on his cheek. It’s long but not deep enough to need stitches. Ned also puts some leave-in product in Kylo's hair in hopes of saving it from the abuse it just endured.
“I’ll have to have Mare do your hair next time,” Ned offers as he combs his fingers through Kylo’s hair, but he freezes. “Um, if—if there’s a next—”
“That sounds great,” Kylo cuts him off. With his arms wrapped around Ned, Kylo hums contentedly, and reluctantly Ned reminds him they have business to attend to.
Kylo pouts but he picks up the shirt Ned set out for him, eyeing it skeptically.
“It's the biggest shirt I had,” Ned grimaces, helping Kylo tug it over his head and down.
The shirt is almost comically small on Kylo even though it’s much too large for Ned, the “Softees” logo stretched across Kylo’s chest and the purple fabric dampened by his dripping hair. The sweatpants sit low on Kylo's hips, showing the band of the underwear Ned gave him, also too tight, and still leaving an enticing swath of skin visible on his midriff.
“We’ll go shopping soon,” Ned promises, though he personally has no objections to this outfit.
“Is it okay if I have Mare come over now?” Ned asks, glancing up at Kylo, who's reading the original draft Ned had sent to Wesley.
Kylo looks over, and Ned’s heart clenches at the sight—dressed in his clothes, lounging on his couch, leisurely scrolling on his laptop. Ned still can't believe this is real.
“Sure, that's fine. You've got a good start here.” Kylo goes back to reading.
“Oh, also—” Ned adds, motioning to the laptop again. “Find some clothes that fit. We can order them.”
Kylo looks up with an appreciative smile, then starts typing.
“Sorry I haunted Wesley’s bedroom, by the way,” Kylo mentions casually as he shops and proofreads. “I couldn't let you and that little twerp risk half-assing it. Your draft is good though.”
“Wait, what?” Ned stills with the fridge door open. “That's how you shut our article down?
Kylo takes his eyes off the screen and looks over. “Yeah, just a speaker in the vents with some threats, simple booby trap, snuck around in the yard so the camera saw a dark figure. Planted a psychic near the school to repeat the threats to him the next day. It was cheap.”
“The cost wasn't my concern,” Ned facepalms. “I'm not saying he doesn't deserve it but Jesus, Kylo.”
Kylo shrugs. “I've developed a lot of tactics over the years.”
“That’s not—just don't get caught, okay?”
“Never.”
Ned sighs and texts Mare again.
We're ready to get started.
Took you two an awfully long time to get ready
Shut up.
Never
For the record *I* took *him*
to pound town.
Ugh
Why would you tell me that
You're a terrible friend
And a worse boss
Be there in 20
The timer beeps for the frozen pizza he'd tossed in the oven for him and Kylo, so Ned slices and plates it and brings it over to where Kylo is clothes shopping on Ned's laptop.
He sets a plate down in front of each of them.
“So. You've been intimidating journalists here for twenty years and I've never heard of you till now?” Ned gripes.
Kylo looks over at him and raises an eyebrow.
“I leave no trace. I'd be no good at my job if people knew me,” Kylo shrugs. “Plus, you had never done anything before that needed silencing.”
Ned’s oddly offended by the second part, although considering their current predicament perhaps he should be grateful.
Kylo turns the laptop to face him. There are a few tabs open—a five pack of black shirts, a pair of black jeans, some black socks and underwear.
“Kylo. You deserve better than Walmart.” Ned grabs the computer and opens a new tab.
Kylo looks unconvinced. “I don't need anything more. It'll be easier to pay you back when—”
Ned cuts him off. “Are these your sizes? Let me take care of it.”
Kylo tries to protest once more but Ned shuts him down. Ned has already ordered a delivery from the drugstore with some toiletries and is setting up a next-day delivery from his favorite local menswear store when Mare arrives.
She hesitates at the entry when Kylo unlocks the door for her, staring him up and down skeptically.
“It’s a long story,” Kylo grumbles, tugging at the neckline of the ill-fitting shirt and hiking the pants back up.
She moves past him silently, setting down her bag and taking a seat.
“So what are we working with?” She addresses Ned, avoiding Kylo's direction.
“I filled her in on the backstory,” Ned explains to Kylo, then continues. “We've got everything we need to trigger an investigation. I've run everything past Phasma and she has a copy of Kylo’s recording.”
“Okay…” Mare sounds hesitant. “And you're a hundred percent sure on… all of this?”
Kylo bites his lip and looks away.
“One hundred percent,” Ned assures her. “Well, maybe ninety five. Could be an asteroid.”
“Well then, let's get started.” She doesn't sound totally convinced.
“So, game plan. I'll start a shared doc and expand my draft outline with all this new evidence,” Ned begins, opening up a new tab. “Mare, can you start a list of sources and transcribe the recording? Kylo, work on risk management and safety measures. Reconvene in a bit.”
“Yes, sir,” Kylo salutes him with a smirk.
Mare bows to him mockingly and steals his desk. “As you wish, editor.”
Kylo swings his legs across Ned’s lap and rests his chin on his shoulder. Mare rolls her eyes.
Ned sighs. He has a feeling he's going to regret introducing two of the most sarcastic people he knows.
For the better part of two hours they're typing away in silence, Ned and Mare being careful to use their personal laptops and Kylo using Ned's tablet.
Mare gets up to raid his fridge again. Ned gives her a nasty look.
“Got any more of that cheddar?” She calls out.
“Not after your last visit,” Ned grumbles.
“How about this gouda?” She doesn't wait for him to answer, just takes the hunk of cheese back to her spot.
Ned glares but she gives him a look in return and points to the bump.
“Fine,” he mouths.
“Progress update?” Mare announces, rubbing her hands together excitedly.
“Let's do this. It's like a slumber party but way more fun!” Ned exclaims.
Mare and Kylo share a concerned look and despite Ned being the cause, it warms his heart.
“Well, I've collected what I could find linking Snoke and Hux to Greenstorm and Better Living Industries. There isn't a whole lot of evidence,” Mare says pointedly, glaring at Kylo. “The recording is our silver bullet, and Ohio is a one party consent state so we're in the clear in that regard.”
“Great work. I've got the article outlined with the full timeline, starting with the Greenstorm scandal, Hux founding Better Living Industries, the propaganda Snoke used to get elected, and the deal he made with Hux to move BLI in for cheap, the bribes to roll back regulations, and the plan to dump hazardous waste into Lake Erie,” Ned continues. “Kylo?”
Kylo looks more nervous than Ned has ever seen and clears his throat.
“Bottom line is, we're not safe after this article drops until Snoke and Hux are in custody. They've got money to send people after us,” Kylo warns. “Snoke doesn't have me anymore but he's already targeted me and who knows what Hux has up his sleeve. Keep Phasma in the loop with everything and give her copies of all our files and evidence.”
Mare nods in agreement.
“I think… if it's okay with you, Mare, we should leave your name off to avoid a potential conflict of interest with the PD.” Kylo looks nervous as he reads from his notes. “Also just for your own safety.”
“Smart, I agree.” She gives him an encouraging smile.
Kylo looks like a weight was lifted off his shoulders.
“But that doesn't mean you're safe—Snoke knows you work for the paper and could get your address from the personnel files,” Kylo continues. “Ned, you and I are at the highest risk with you as the author and my… history. I'd recommend all of us leaving town.”
Mare looks at Ned, clearly worried, then turns to Kylo. “You and Ned should go. I can't just leave for who knows how long.”
She’s saying something else to him, but all Ned can think about is the skin peeking out between Kylo's shirt and waistband, made wider by his position resting back on the couch. He can see the outline of Kylo's abs and the trail of dark hair disappearing under the hem of his shirt. Kylo catches him staring and smirks, leaning back further to expose even more skin and accentuate the bulge under the gray sweatpants.
Ned is rudely brought back to reality by Mare snapping her fingers in his face. “Can you guys not be horndogs for like ten fucking minutes? Please?”
“Sorry,” they both say in unison.
“As I was saying,” Mare continues, glaring. “I've got Rosa working on security measures to keep us safe here, not that you care, evidently. She's calling in some favors and the PD will be patrolling our house. Her deputy is getting our house decked out with a security system that’s monitored directly by the PD.”
“Can they patrol the Truth Teller Tower also?” Kylo asks, his confidence returning. “I don't think they'd make a hit in such a public place but you never know.”
“I'll see what I can do,” Mare responds as she types on her phone.
“Mare, if you're sure about it…” Ned prompts, and she nods. “Kylo and I should probably still leave. Where do you think?”
“Cancun?” Kylo proposes. “One time Snoke and Hux flew out there when Greenstorm knocked the city's power out for a week in January. It's out of the country but not far, and you can fly nonstop from Detroit.”
“I'll make arrangements,” Ned starts typing. “How long do you think?”
“A month?” Kylo sounds unsure. “I don't know much about the legal side of things. How much will it—”
“Don't worry about the cost. I'll run the plan past Phasma.” Ned fires off a text and turns to Mare. “You're one hundred percent sure about this?”
“Yeah. I’m 32 weeks… I don't think they'll even let me on a plane,” Mare sounds resigned.
“I understand,” Ned relents. “But if that changes at any time, please do whatever you need to stay safe.”
She nods.
“How soon can we get this published?” Ned continues, pulling up the booking site. “I don't want to book flights too early or too late.”
“Well, we've got a great start with your outline and my research.” Mare pauses, glancing down at her smartwatch. “Let's see, it's Saturday right now. If we finish a draft tonight, which I think we can, put on the finishing touches in the morning, I think we can easily submit this tomorrow night for release on Monday.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Ned nods, but hearing everything laid out is giving him a rush of nervous energy. “I'll book travel. Can you two start fleshing out the article?”
“How ‘bout you and I flesh it out?” Kylo grins at Ned.
Mare groans and rolls her eyes. “You guys are the absolute worst couple I know and I found out about you like a week ago.”
As tempting as the offer sounds, Ned sends Mare and Kylo to the barstools at his kitchen island and takes a seat at his desk. He has to brush away crumbs of cheese and crackers.
They're mostly silent at first, with Kylo tentatively making suggestions as Mare types. It doesn't take long, though, before the whispering and giggling starts.
“Ned is going to make you rephrase that.”
“Ugh, you're so right. He loves Oxford commas.”
“He also hates when people say ‘sometimes.’”
“Good call. Did Ned ever tell you about the time he interviewed this lady at the senior center—”
“Hey! Get back to work!” Ned snaps from across the room.
Mare and Kylo both turn around but they don't look apologetic. They give each other a look then the hushed whispers begin again.
Ned sighs. He lets them know he's booking a red-eye tomorrow at midnight, and moves on to find lodging.
The last minute flights are exorbitant but he finds a month-long rental at some sort of timeshare resort hotel discounted due to a cancellation. He's never booked something so quickly in his life.
Mare yawns and Ned checks the time. It's after 1 am.
“We should break for the night,” Ned announces. “Mare, do you want to stay?”
Mare looks hesitant. “Oh, I don't think so…”
“I can leave if that would make you more comfortable. You can have the couch,” Kylo offers offhandedly and makes his way toward his backpack and the door.
“Kylo, you’re not sleeping on a goddamn bench again,” Ned sighs. “We can figure something out.”
“I'll stay, but no funny business,” Mare glares as she points her finger at both of them.
Ned is legitimately pleased about their little slumber party, setting Mare up with a pillow and a blanket. He does offer to unfold the couch bed but Mare pulls her ‘got used to a narrow bed in the Army’ again and refuses to let him.
He can hear Mare and Kylo talking while he's brushing his teeth.
“You were in the army?” Kylo asks.
“Yeah, military family. It's just what we all did. I think I needed the structure before I could decide what to do with my life.”
“I actually enlisted, too. Marines. When my mom was… dying. But then, you know. Shit happened before I turned eighteen.”
Kylo looks a little embarrassed when Ned steps back out and hurries to make use of his new toiletries in the bathroom.
Mare starts settling in but Ned can’t stop pacing around his apartment. He knows Mare’s about to tell him off for it, but hearing their plans for the next forty eight hours falling into place has left him buzzing.
“I’m proud of you,” is what she says instead.
Ned stills, looking over to the couch where Mare is cuddled up.
“I know everyone makes fun of you for it, but your belief in journalism and your moral compass make a difference. This will make a difference.” She smiles gently at him, peeking out from under the blanket.
Ned frowns. “Everyone makes fun of me for that?”
She ignores him and continues, “We're doing something good together. All three of us.”
Ned smiles at her gratefully, but the bathroom door opening interrupts their little moment. Kylo seems to pick up on the mood and quietly escapes into the bedroom.
“You're both risking everything for me.” Ned says softly, watching his foot trace circles in the carpet instead of having to face Mare.
The past few days have been such a haze of anger and self-righteousness and reckless determination that he hadn't paused to think about the fact he's legitimately putting his friends’ lives in jeopardy.
“Presumptuous assuming we're risking it for you,” Mare scoffs, snapping Ned out of his rumination.
“I still feel… responsible.” Ned admits.
“So weather this storm with us, o captain, my captain.” Mare grins.
Ned salutes her. “Yes, ma'am.”
“Nope.” She glares at him.
“We'll get through this together,” Ned gives her a smile he hopes is reassuring.
“Aren’t you gonna go cuddle your hot boyfriend?” Mare prods, but Ned suddenly feels a rush of…some sort of emotion he can't quite place.
“He’s not—” Ned protests, but reconsiders. “Or is he…?”
“You’re both idiots.” Mare turns inward to face the couch cushions, and Ned takes that as his invitation to leave. He wonders if Kylo heard that.
As he heads over to the bedroom, Ned shuts off the main light and cracks the door open. Kylo’s sitting in his bed, reading the copy of Project Hail Mary that had been on Ned’s nightstand. He ditched the shirt and sweatpants, just wearing a pair of Ned’s underwear stretched so much they’re almost see-through.
The dim light of the reading lamp makes his features look softened, his expression pensive. Kylo looks up and smiles when Ned shuts the door behind him.
“I didn’t know you liked to read.” Ned pulls the covers back on the other side of the bed and slips under them.
Kylo looks over at him. “Just because I’m a criminal turned hitman isolated from society doesn’t mean I don’t like books.”
“That’s… fair enough,” Ned acquiesces, rolling onto his side to admire Kylo's body.
Ned places a hand on Kylo's chest and rubs his thumb back and forth. Kylo sets the book down and turns to face him.
“I'm—” Kylo pauses, considering. “I'm really thankful we're doing this. Together.”
Ned kisses him on the cheek, trying not to tear up.
“Then you’d better still be here when I wake up,” Ned teases.
Kylo tugs Ned on top of him. “Guess you better stay here, then.”
Ned rests his head on Kylo’s chest and hums in agreement, feeling the rise and fall and the heartbeat then kisses him again, working his way up Kylo’s chest, neck, then lips. Kylo’s mouth is soft and warm and his hands are all over Ned’s back and in his hair.
They really shouldn’t. He really shouldn’t. But there’s also an insanely attractive man in his bed for only the second time and Ned only has so much self control, and it’s running low after one of the craziest days of his life.
Ned can't help but moan when Kylo bucks his hips upward and he grinds down in response.
“I can hear that!” Mare yells from the other room.
Ned freezes, but Kylo doesn't seem embarrassed.
“Let's get some rest.” Kylo rolls them onto their sides. “I heard you're allegedly six foot three but you like being the little spoon.”
“God damn it,” Ned grumbles.
Kylo wraps his long arms around him from behind and slots their legs together. “I like her. She had screenshots and everything.”