Chapter Text
Time was such a strange thing. Too fleeting one day, slower than bureaucracy the next.
It had been three weeks since the destruction of Starkiller Base. Three weeks since he had been ordered to bring Ren to Snoke.
Three weeks since Ren had almost died in his arms.
Hux drew in a deep breath, trying to steady himself. Ren had been awake for a few days now, but he was hardly out of the woods. That lovely hole in his abdomen had ruptured a great many things, and was not healing well.
He shook his head. Better not to dwell.
He cocked his head, then sighed. “Come on out, old man. You know I hate it when you lurk.”
Anakin snorted. “The list of things about me that annoy you seems to grow every day.”
“Are you surprised? In any case, is Kenobi with you?”
Obi-Wan walked into his sight line, eyebrow raised. “Oh, and I’m interesting now? What could I possibly do for you today?”
Hux ignored the teasing tone. “Did they make it? I have a list of the dead, and most of my senior staff is on it.”
Obi-Wan smiled gently. “All of the ones you sent arrived safely. They’re settling in well, and providing more intelligence than the Resistance knows what to do with.”
Hux let out shuddering breath that he hadn’t even known he was holding. “Thank you. That…means a great deal.”
“It really was my pleasure. I have to warn you, though, that your Commander Tegrin is almost frantic about his family.”
“The girls are ready to call for extraction. They’re just waiting for me to give them the signal.” Hux sighed. “They’re stuck until I can leave. Most of the disappearances can be written off as battle losses, but their leaving will be the sort of thing that can’t be ignored.”
Anakin cleared his throat. “Speaking of you leaving…”
Hux rose from his desk. “Did you check his medical suite? Can you guarantee me a conversation with him that won’t be monitored?”
“I don’t like this,” Anakin said.
“I don’t recall asking for your opinion. Can I safely speak with him?”
Anakin nodded.
Obi-Wan sighed. “General, this really isn’t the wisest course of action.”
Hux stood quietly, but seemed to vibrate with rage. “Fuck you, and fuck your wisdom. I have manipulated him and brought him immeasurable pain, all without his knowledge. Everyone he has ever cared for has used him in one way or another. For this one moment, he is going to have a choice, and I will only proceed with his consent.”
“It could very well cost your life and his,” Anakin whispered.
“I have been fighting for his right to choose for months now. I’m hardly going to take it away because it inconveniences me. Now sod off. I’m going to the med bay.”
The two ghosts watched as Hux strode purposefully from the room.
“He’s right, you know,” Obi-Wan said.
“That’s not going to make it hurt any less in the end.”
*****
Hux sat at Ren’s bedside, holding his hand. He had spent so much time in the private suite that a small office had been set up for him. His chair was comfortable, and a variety of datapads and notes littered the small table.
After a few minutes, Ren began to stir. He blinked blearily, and seemed to have trouble focusing. When his eyes locked on Hux, the tension seemed to drain away.
“You spend entirely too much time here,” he croaked.
Hux gave him a straw to suck on, and smoothed back his hair. “I just can’t seem to stay away. It must be the scintillating company.”
Ren’s answering smile was slight, and tinged with sadness. “What is it, Hux? You have your purposeful face on.”
Hux winced, and rested his forehead against Ren’s hair. It was just too much. He couldn’t bear to lose this man.
“General, surely you’re not hesitating? That’s atypical enough to be terrifying.”
No more delays, then. Time to have it out.
“When the base was falling, Supreme Leader Snoke contacted me. He ordered me to bring you to him, to complete your training.”
All of the humor bled off of Ren’s face, and he took Hux’s hand in his. “You’re the one to bring me? You, personally?”
Hux nodded. “I’m in disgrace, love. I’ve failed beyond anything that can be overlooked.”
“We can’t. Hux, we can’t. He’s going to…”
“…order you to kill me. If you don’t, he’ll kill us both himself.”
Ren let out a quiet sob. “I can’t. Hux, no, not again, please, not that…”
Hux embraced him as best he could, given the man’s injuries. He knew that this was the moment.
“There is another option, but it has to be your choice.”
Ren looked at him. “How?”
Hux smiled sadly. “You’re the one who’s always teasing me about my plans. I have a way out, but it may end up being more painful than anything Snoke can do to us.”
Ren’s gaze on him was like a weight. “Will you live through it?”
“There are no guarantees in this universe, love. You know that. Still…it gives us a chance.”
The silence seemed to stretch out into years. Finally Ren nodded. “Yes. I’ll choose life, if it means that you’ll live too.”
Hux took his hand, and pressed it to his lips. “I love you. No matter happens, no matter what either of us has to do, know that I will always protect you.”
“Just don’t forget to protect yourself as well. You are unspeakably dear to me, Hux.”
Hux kissed his hand, then stepped away. “Sleep, and don’t worry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Ren nodded, then closed his eyes and let himself slip under.
Hux turned and began to march to his room.
He had work to do. Plans to set in motion. A defection to carry out.
In spite of all his best intentions, hope seemed to bloom in his chest.