maskormenacelogs | [closed]

Entry tags:

[closed]

WHO: Armitage Hux and Kylo Ren
WHERE: De Chima 008
WHEN: early February 11th
WHAT: The catching up conversation that needed to happen
WARNINGS: spoilers for all of TLJ, mentions of nudity

It took him a moment for him to remember where he was. Just a few hours ago he had been on Crait and just as suddenly he was once more back on Earth. He hadn't had much time to process it yesterday before passing out next to Ren.

He rolled over to look at Kylo Ren sleeping next to him, frowning slightly. He still remembered the pressure around his throat but he hadn't ever been afraid of Ren before, he refused to start now. Here- here things weren't the same. This time, Ren's arm was around his waist, legs tangled with Hux's so it was difficult to really move.

He still tried to sit up and shifted Ren's arm needing to move but he didn't go far- Ren had a tight grip even in his sleep. He wasn't sure what to say to Ren just yet, what he would tell him about what had happened. It was a lot that he was still processing bit by bit with the rush of memories from Earth. He eventually admitted defeat, rolling over the best he could to face Ren, staring at him intently.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ren stirred as he felt Hux move, fading back into consciousness. Vague images of snow- something like snow, and blood- they weren't relevant. He left them behind in his dreams, waking to his life here in De Chima, in bed, with Hux.
With Hux staring straight at him.

He offered him a slightly quizzical look through the hazy remnant of sleep, his broad hand passing lazily over Hux's back. Yes. This was better. Much better.

"Morning."

"Morning."

The galaxy seemed further away with Ren's hand on his back like that, in the warmth of the bed. Like it all happened a lifetime ago. It would be so easy to close his eyes and just lay in the early morning sun with Ren, letting himself forget for a few more moments.

But-

"We have a lot to talk about." He figured Ren should know what happened back in their galaxy, the subject would come up eventually and it was best to do this talk sooner rather than later.

His hand stilled, resting on Hux's skin like it belonged there. It wasn't the idle gesture it pretended to be.

"What would you like to talk about?" he asked, watching the General's face intently. He had an idea. It had, after all, not been so long since he himself had been dragged back into the conflict they both came from- a place where this certainly could not happen.

"What was the last thing you remembered before returning here?" he asked slowly, taking a moment to gather his thoughts.

"Snoke is dead- as is your uncle," he said slowly, watching Ren intently. He wasn't sure how to explain what he saw on Crait- one moment Luke Skywalker was there and the next he wasn't- what else did it mean other than he was dead via some strange Force magic? He wasn't sure but he was going with the theory that Skywalker was gone for good this time.

He had been ready to reply- the throne room, the girl, Snoke's body sliced in two- but none of it mattered.

"Skywalker," he hissed suddenly. His heart pounded. Everything else fell away. "Show me. Show it to me, Hux. Give me the memory."

He felt sure the General wouldn't resist, but he was more than willing to force the issue if necessary. That moment belonged to him. He would have it.

Hux tensed but he knew that Ren could rip the memory from him whether he gave permission or not. Yet, he knew he couldn't describe what he saw- he had no words to be able to explain what happened to Ren. Sharing the memory would be the best way to explain it.

He met Ren's gaze, his heart beating harder before he finally nodded. "Fine."

His eyes remained deadly steady as he lifted his hand from Hux's back and brought it alongside his face, the tension and control visible as he eased his way inside.

Hux's hesitance, his knowledge that Ren could take whatever he wanted, a new... fear, yes, a fear that the General refused to let take root-- none of it held Ren's attention. He delved deep, seeking that one, singular moment.

Hux stared at Ren as he felt him in his mind, gritting his teeth but there was no resistance. He let Ren see as he watched from the shuttle as Ren and Luke sparred on the salty surface of Crait, red dust in the air.

And how suddenly, Skywalker was no longer there, vanishing into the salt dust. He reached out to grab Ren's arm but he refused to show pain, his eyes staring into Ren's without wavering.

That was it?

No.
No, there had to be more. There was no detail, he couldn't see Luke's face, he couldn't see, he couldn't feel--

He went back. Saw it again. Again. His fingers began to tremble slightly. It wasn't enough, it wasn't--

Over....and over. Ren was playing the memory on repeat searching for something that wasn't there.

"Ren..." he growled as he dug his nails into his arm. He wouldn't plead or beg but he wanted Ren out of his mind right now, right that moment.

"Ren!"

The General's voice registered dimly outside the looping play and repeat of the scene, but at the more insistent reminder of pain he gasped, sharp- recoiling as if burned, his presence vanishing from Hux's thoughts instantly.

His pulse was racing, his eyes wide. And Hux--

He had hurt him. Something twisted in his gut, not because he had caused pain, but because he hadn't intended to. It hadn't even occurred to him to take care not to.

He didn't know what to do with his hand. Did it still belong on Hux's back?

"I won't do it again," he said after a moment, because that was the best he could do.

Hux's hand relaxed as he let out a breath once he felt Ren's absence. He wasn't sure what to say, again he felt his throat tighten up but he knew at the moment Ren hadn't meant to do that.

"Never again," he said quietly though he knew, in reality, there was nothing he could do to stop Ren if he was determined. But Ren seemed sincere so he would hold him to that.

"The Resistance is gone. We won." A few stragglers didn't count, what could they do? No resources, no fleet, no Republic, no allies. He had finally burned away the last bit of festering rot from the galaxy.

Even now, the desire to push back in and see it again, to try and make sense of it all--

But he wouldn't. He said he wouldn't, so he wouldn't.

He breathed out slowly, and laid his hand on Hux's back once more- his signal that he had understood the terms. Never again.

"It's over, then," he said, as if waiting for the relief to fall on him. "It's done. The girl?"

Hux didn't flinch when Ren touched him, settling down once more.

"Gone- I don't know where she went. When I discovered Snoke's death I found him in half and you unconscious on the floor."

And he had reached for his blaster without hesitation. He remembered how strong the anger and bitterness had felt in that moment. He knew that if Ren hadn't woken up he would have pulled the trigger.

"I took the army to finish off the Resistance when they fled to Crait. They're gone- there is nothing left."

He frowned.

Rey, gone. Himself unconscious. She hadn't joined him, then. That much was obvious.

Hadn't it always been? He'd known he wouldn't get what he wanted. Even as he crushed the knowledge down under his desire to keep her with him. Even as he had fought for her. Even as she had fought for him.

He felt sick. Angry. Miserable. Defeated.
Somehow, even with Skywalker dead and the Resistance finished.
Defeated.

"You got what you wanted, then."

"Yes....everything I've been working for as long as I can remember. My- the new Empire." He had almost slipped for a moment but quickly caught himself. He wouldn't talk about Ren taking the place that was rightfully his, the bitterness was still too fresh.

But Ren didn't share his happiness. Had the girl meant that much to him? He frowned as he lowered his hand a bit. He didn't understand Ren's reaction- why was he so concerned about someone who had been allied with the Resistance? "The war is over, Ren."

If Rey was missing and the Resistance was crushed... he knew what he would do next. If he and the man he will become there were the same person.
It was something he doubted, occasionally. He had so much more than the figure from Hux's memory.

If Skywalker was dead, his mother, his father, the Resistance- he would chase after Rey.

But he could sense Hux's uncertainty. It wasn't quite jealousy, yet, though it could easily get twisted that way if he said the wrong thing- so he pushed Rey from his mind and concentrated instead on what Hux was saying. The Empire. The end of the war.

"Tell me about it," he said, and as soon as the words were out of his mouth, he knew he'd chosen the right ones. His fingers began stroking idle circles over Hux's back.

"Your new empire. Tell me what you plan to do next, now the war is over."

His new empire. It was really only a matter of time. He wouldn't let anyone- not even Kylo Ren- stand in his way. He relaxed under Ren's touch, his lips curving into a small smile.

Visions of what his Empire would be had kept him strong since leaving Arkanis. He would restore not only the greatness of the Empire but a stronger one, one that would be able to endure. It was part of what made him so bitter- he knew Kylo Ren hadn't devoted himself to the same vision but he had taken that dream from Hux so easily.

But he kept the emotion buried down, he would indulge in a daydream for now.

"Move into the Core- establish the Imperial Court on Coruscant once more," he said thoughtfully, imagining what it would be like arriving at Coruscant, victorious. "Then the hard work will begin- establishing stability across the galaxy once more. Rebuilding the damage done by the Rebellion and the Republic- Imperial citizens will be protected and not have to fear being attacked by rebels anymore."

Notably, Ren himself was absent from this plan. It didn't surprise him. He and Hux were not on the best of terms, back where they came from- though with Snoke out of the way he had hoped that might begin to change.

"You're already fantasising about parades, aren't you," he teased softly, stroking over his back.

"And when I return? Once I have tracked down the girl. What then? Do you plan to be a gracious Emperor? A forgiving one?"

Hux chuckled but there was a light in his eyes. He knew exactly what he wanted. And while he had stopped picturing Ren in those daydreams back home, he was here now.

"Imagine the Imperial Palace lit up- star destroyers low in the sky as fireworks burst overhead," he said quietly though there was still force in his words, hushed awe. He could imagine it so easily because he had wanted it so much for such a long time.

"You know I would be a fair Emperor. But, if you would serve me faithfully I will be forgiving and gracious," he said thoughtfully as he reached out to touch Ren's cheek. "I will need an enforcer...someone to protect me."

He laughed.

Actually, he imagined Hux would be an exceptionally petty Emperor- he couldn't imagine a scenario where he, as the man he was there, would be willing to endure whatever Hux would subject him to before welcoming him back to his side.

But the fantasy was more pleasant than the truth, and Hux was enjoying it. It was easy enough to play along.

"So. If I was willing to swear loyalty to you, you might be able to find a place for me by your side," he mused, as if weighing it up. "I could certainly protect you against any traitors in your court..."

Hux knew this was a fantasy- in reality, Ren had taken his throne and there would be no way that Ren would bow to him now. But right now it was a fantasy he wanted to enjoy now that they were away from their galaxy.

He rubbed his thumb against Ren's bottom lip, a glint in his eyes as he leaned in.

"Swear your loyalty to me then, Kylo Ren. Swear your loyalty to your Emperor."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[closed]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject