Chapter Text
One week had gone by since Poe had met Hux, got his cat down the tree and invited him for coffee. And the strange, redhead man had been stuck in a corner of his mind since then. He could be flying, walking BB-8, trying to do some accounting or help the others with cooking or doing the dishes, and still, there was a small part of himself that always jumped back to the man and the cup of coffee they shared in Behra's little coffee shop. It had been... nice. Comfortable. And Poe wanted nothing more than to start again.
In his moments of clarity, he chastised himself for daydreaming about it. It was just a coffee, for fuck's sake ! Nothing much ! A cup of coffee with someone he met and caused some problems for, and who was probably very happy to have gotten rid of the annoyance without more damage. Hux probably had a myriad of more fascinating things to do that reciprocate... reciprocate what ? Interest ? More ? Poe didn't even know. Okay, the man was kinda cute, and had really amazing eyes if one was into very light eyes. And he was adorable with his cat. But besides that...
When he caught himself thinking like this, he quickly gave himself a good mental shake. Come on, why be so negative ? Hux may be a difficult person, but Poe wasn't so bad, after all, was he ? No, he wasn't. According to various persons, he was quite good-looking, he was nice, and he had a dog who loved him. Meaning he was a correct person, at least. You couldn't be a bad person and be loved by a dog. Dogs smelled those kinds of things, especially dogs as smart as BB-8.
So, he was more or less set on that point : he, Poe Dameron, would make quite a nice boyfriend (and had already, more than once). If he wanted it. And if Hux wanted it, of course. Did Poe want to ? He didn't really know. Hux was cute, and it had been a while since he had any kind of serious relationship around. Did it mean he wanted one ? Maybe not. Maybe he was happy on his own. But maybe it would be nice to have a special someone in his life. Maybe his days would be a little brighter with someone special to think about.
But would Hux make a good special someone ? Did he want Hux to be it ? That was another hard question. As beautiful his eyes were, he... honestly, he didn't really look like a nice person. In fact, he didn't look like he liked people. His cat was the only one finding grace in his eyes. That didn't sound very appealing. Okay, maybe Poe was wrong about that, because they only spent an hour together at most. The point was, he didn't know him at all, and didn't know if Armitage Hux was a nice person under an icy exterior, an introvert man with a lot on his plate and difficulties expressing his feelings, or a plain asshole who only liked his cat. And who, maybe, didn't swing this way at all. Maybe he only liked laws and complicated cases. And delicious coffee. And not pilots with issues and a motor mouth.
So here he was, one week later, still no closer from any kind of realisation or anything than before he met that strange man and his cat, watching the bags of dog food as if they holded the answer to all of his questions. Sadly, they only held delicious, nourishing kibble for BB-8. He finally opted for his dog's favourite brand, and went to move to get some cleaner, when a bright spot of orange at the end of the aisle caught his eye. A bright spot of orange exactly like someone's hair. Someone wearing a long, black coat. Someone he had been thinking about a lot.
Poe rubbed his eyes, cursed the lack of sleep lately, and his sixth daily cup of coffee making him see the very man he had been thinking of all week. But no, even with all the eye-rubbing he could do, Hux was still standing there, hands behind his back. Was he... glaring at the cat food ? Yes. Yes he was. Brows furrowed, mouth in a tight light. Looking every bit like he was furious that the cat food didn't jump on its own in the basket at his feet. Typical Hux. Well, Poe barely knew him, but that was probably typical Hux.
A discreet glance in a nearby display case informed Poe that his hair was doing... Whatever it did when he had spent several minutes raking his fingers through it. Namely, sticking in every direction ever. He tried to flatten it, with mixed results of course. But at least, he didn't look like he flew with the windows open anymore. And spending more time fixing it would mean Hux would run away, and Poe would be left wondering again.
Amazingly, Hux hadn't move and it was really good, because Poe didn't know how much time he had spent with his hair. The pilot moved to the end of the aisle, not too fast because he didn't want to look too eager and scare him. He displayed his most charming smile, and tapped the man on the shoulder. Said man jumped and turned to face him, in an almost perfect recreation of their first meeting. This time, though, he didn't stare at him in uncomfortable silence, just nodded in his direction.
- Dameron, he said simply.
Poe pratically beamed at the thought that Hux remembered his name. Okay, they had talked a bit, but still. It was a little bit heartwarming. Now, strike an engaging conversation. He couldn't just ask him what a nice man like him was doing in a place like that, right ? (besides, it was obvious.)
- How is Millicent ? he asked instead.
Hux seemed surprised at the question. Not in a bad way, it seemed.
- She's fine, he answered after a second, then elaborated : She likes sleeping on my coat, it seems.
Poe smiled at the picture, and carefully refrained from checking the long coat for orange hairs.
- And you ? How are you ?
The tone was perfect : warm, nice, just a little detached to not seem too eager. Poe leaned just a little against a shelf and smiled. Hux didn't smile back, but at least, he answered :
- Fine.
- Just fine ?
Hux sighed.
- Lots of work at the office.
- Ah, Poe remarked. I thought you looked a little tired, yes.
Hux looked surprised by the affirmation. And maybe a little... touched ? His expression softened, just a hint. Poe knew that one shouldn't use "cute" to describe a grown man, but that was the word that immediatly popped in his mind. He looked younger without his frown. More cordial, too.
Hux went back to look at the shelf of cat food, and Poe thought with a bit of dismay that their conversation was finished. But the other man asked, in a neutral tone :
- And you ?
- I'm okay, Poe answered with a smile. It's been a quiet week.
Hux nodded. He looked at Poe, up and down. That gaze would have made everyone feel self-conscious, and Poe was no exception. He started to reach for his jacket to arrange it, when Hux asked :
- Did you forget your dog ?
Poe had to curb his enthusiasm. Hux probably only remembered him because BB-8 chased his beloved cat up the tree. But still, it was nice of him to ask.
- He's at the door, Poe answered. He's not allowed here, so he's waiting for me.
At this, Hux raised an eyebrow.
- Isn't he a service dog ? he remarked, tone sharp, almost offended. They can't refuse him entrance.
This time, it was Poe's turn to feel surprised. He vaguely mentionned it during their conversation at the coffee shop, right, but he didn't expect Hux to remember.
- He's not.... he explained. Well, he is there to help me, of course, but he's not an official service dog, so I can't really insist. Besides, he's a bit... feisty. As you could see. (Hux nodded.) And I'm fine, really. I can get by without him here all the time.
There was something in Hux's eye, that made Poe think he didn't believe him, but the man didn't insist.
- Well, he said more to the cat food than to him, if you need legal advice about that...
He let the end of the sentence drawl out. Poe didn't really know if this was a lawyer's way of flirting, or if it was just a genuine offer (or an attempt at finding a job), but he was delighted none the less.
- I'd love that, he said. Hey, if you find something, could you text me ?
He grabbed a receipt in his basket, patted his pockets for a pen, even when he perfectly knew that he never, ever brought one anywhere. A shiny ball pen appeared under his nose. Ah, count on Hux to have something to write on him at all times. He probably used it to strike each item on his carefully written grocery list. Which was kind of endearing.
Poe took the pen, quickly scribbled his number on the paper, and gave back both to Hux.
- Here, he announced. My number. In case you find something about not-quite-service dogs ? You can text me.
Hux took the paper. For a second, Poe feared that he would crumple it and throw it away. But no, he carefully folded it and slid it in his pocket. A small voice in Poe's mind told him that Hux was too polite to throw anything on a supermarket's floor and was just waiting for a waste bin, but he quickly crushed it.
- Well, he said, I'll just be on my way. Say hi to Millie for me.
He waved at him, earning a nod in return, and retreated towards the cleaners aisle. As soon as he was out of sight, he allowed himself a small celebration of victory. Hux now had his phone number ! Of course, it didn't mean he would call, more like he would forget it in his pocket until it was destroyed by the washing machine or something. But there wasn't anything that Poe could do to stop it. For now, he was happy to twirl his basket a little and hope that he would soon get a call.
~*~
He didn't. No matter how many times he glanced at his phone. The screen lit up from time to time, but it was only texts from Finnn Rey or his pilot friends. Once or twice, it rang, and his heart jumped in his throat, but it was only to offer him a job. He was happy, of course, flying was everything he wanted to do in his life. But the lack of call from a certain redhead was disheartening. Each time, it felt a little worse, a little heavier. Of course, he shouldn't expect too much. After all, he did invite Hux to call him if he had legal advice to give. Not to chat about the weather or his beloved cat. Still, it stung a little bit. Scratch that. It stung a lot. He did his best to ignore it, of course. But it was still stuck somewhere at the back of his mind.
He was sprawled on the couch, feet propped on Finn's laps and changing channels, looking for something to see, when his phone screen lit up. After a long week of getting his hopes crushed, he didn't jump from his spot, just grabbed the phone. A text, from an unknown number. He sat up a bit, his interest piqued. And blinked. The subject only read "look at your nerd". His nerd ? What nerd ? He didn't know any nerd. Finn and Rey weren't nerds at all. And they were in the same room anyway. And he knew their numbers. Jessika ? Not nerd. Leia ? The sky takes pity on who would call her a nerd.
He must have stayed a long moment like that, looking at his phone, because Finn poked his foot.
- Is there something wrong ? he asked. Bad news ?
Poe had to shake his head to come to his senses.
- Ah, no, he answered. Just... a text.
- What does it say ? Is it bad news ?
- I don't know. I haven't opened it.
Finn frowned, and scooted closer to glance at the phone.
- "Your nerd" ? Who's that ?
- I... honestly, I don't know. It's an unknown number.
- You should open it.
- Yes, but...
- No, really. Open it.
- What if it's... Bad ?
- How can it be bad ? It's about your nerd. Whatever nerd is yours.
- That's the point. I don't have a nerd.
- Maybe you do and you don't know ? You should open it.
- But...
Rey suddenly appeared behind them. She grabbed Poe's phone from his hand, unlocked it, and shoved it back in his hand.
- It's not a dick pic, she said. You can look.
Poe wanted to say that he was more than adult enough to look at whatever parts his friends wanted to send him, but that was not really the kind of things you told your best friends. Besides, Rey was already back to her training.
- Look at that ! Finn cooed. It's cute !
Poe directed his attention back to his phone. There, on the screen, was Hux. A pic of Hux, reading a book. Millicent was curled on his lap, and he was scratching her head. Poe immediatly saved the picture on the phone, and stared at it a little longer. Hux wasn't wearing his suit jacket, had discarded the tie, and... was he barefoot ? Yeah, it seemed so. He looked different, like that. Relaxed.
- You should answer him, you know ? Finn advised him, pulling him out of his reverie again.
- Ah, right...
Poe typed a few words, erased them, typed again. Erased again. It needed to be nice, funny, carefree. Finally, he settled on "How's the book and the cat ? And the lawyer ?" and sent it before he could overthink it. He put the phone down, set the channel on an old horror movie, and got ready to wait for an answer.
He must have dozed off, because the masked killer was on his last legs and the credits about to roll when his phone buzzed against his legs. The same unknown number. There were no pics, this time, it only read : "Sorry, my roommate stole my phone." Poe didn't know if he should feel happy or dismayed. So Hux didn't send him the pic ? But at least, he answered him, and now Poe had his phone number.
"Don't worry about it" he typed back. "Millie looks fine by the way."
This time, the answer was faster to come.
"She is, thank you."
"Give her a pat for me."
"Will do."
Poe scratched his head for something else to say. But before he could find something smart and charming, his phone lit up again. Another message from Hux, of his own initiative ! Quickly, he opened it.
"I have some legal advice for you, about your dog. Meet me at your coffee shop. Tomorrow at 5"
This time, Poe's heart didn't just jump. It made a triple looping.
"Will be there !!!!" he wrote, and sent back. He then flopped on the couch, under Finn's and BB-8's bemused eyes. The dog immediatly jumped on him and started enthusiasticly licking his face, making him laugh.
- Does this mean you have good news ? Finn asked.
- The best ever ! Poe answered when BB-8 stopped his ferocious attacks and settled on his stomach.
- You're getting married ? Can I be your best man ?
- You're the best of men, and of course you'll be when the day comes. But not yet. I have a coffee date tomorrow. At Behra's coffeeshop.
Finn whistled.
- You have him truly seduced with her coffee. Good job.
- Now, to wait for tomorrow.
- Do you want to watch another horror movie ?
- Perfect.
He laid on the couch, his head on Finn's lap, and stared at the screen while his friend played with his hair, trying not to count the seconds until next day.
~*~
Hux stared at Poe's answer for a few seconds, before putting his phone in his pocket. He went back to his reading, doing his best to ignore Ren still leaning on the back of the couch, a mere few centimeters away from him. The man had been reading his texts above his shoulder, which annoyed Hux to no end, but there was no way to prevent it, except getting up and leaving. Which was impossible to do with Millicent sleeping on his lap. Ren had followed the whole exchange, and Hux could hear him grinning like an idiot.
- So... Ren started.
Hux didn't deign turn his head. Which didn't stop him.
- Lawyer flirting, eh ?
- I am not lawyer flirting, Hux pointed. I'm not flirting.
- Right, Ren snorted (Hux frowned at that). Because you always give free legal advice to anyone. You didn't even do it for me.
- First, it's not free.
- Yes it is. Or next to free if he buys you coffee.
- Second, Hux went on without acknowledging the interruption, you work in a law firm. You can get all the legal advice you want for free. You don't need mine.
- But you're my roommate, Ren objected.
- My roommate duties stop at paying the cable bill.
Ren groaned at that, and picked his own phone, probably to start another game. But it wasn't enough to stop the last jab.
- You could at least thank me, you ginger bastard.
- Really ? Name-calling doesn't deserve any kind of gratitude.
- Yeah. But if I hadn't send him a pic, you'd be still staring at his number like an idiot without making a move.
The cushion hit Ren square in the face and cut off his little diatribe quite effectively. Satisfied, Hux went back to his book. Tomorrow would sure be a very interesting day.