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The sight of a massacre’s aftermath should not have nauseated him. He’d seen worse in his career. Blood. Bodies blown apart. Scavenger creatures feasting on carrion before the steam of released souls cleared.
This… this display of twisted armor and broken weapons littering the floor of the throne room appeared tame in comparison to General Hux’s previous experiences. The severed body of Supreme Leader Snoke gave him no pause. If asked, he’d fail to recall the names of these fallen Praetorian Guards.
The general cared only about one person here, lying among the ruins of what he assumed had been a spectacular battle. Hux’s heart paused its beating when his line of vision landed on Kylo Ren, prone and unmoving, hair askew and gloved fingers just brushing the hilt of a shattered lightsaber.
Unbidden, echoing in his mind, came the instructions he dreaded.
Finish the job if you find me down. I won’t be a burden.
They discussed it many times; never a pleasant topic, but Hux’s insistence upon solidifying plans allowed him to fully enjoy what little leisure time his position afforded him. Certainly, Kylo appreciated the general’s undivided attention in those stolen moments.
“Ren?” he called out. No answer. He tried again, bolder. The last sparks of a damaged space popped and faded around them. Quite symbolic. Hux might have appreciated the visual were this not so personal.
“Kylo,” he said, his voice weakening. Silence.
Now the moment he wished never to experience arrived. No tears. He promised Ren as much. Hux took a deep breath to affirm a sense of dignified resignation. One hand in his pocket, he lifted his blaster in the other and aimed for Kylo’s head. A single shot, on which they agreed. Immediate, for Kylo anyway. Hux, ever the bureaucrat, required time to tie up loose ends before completing the pact—
He heard groaning. A gasp caught in Hux’s throat. He lowered the blaster.
Kylo moved. Thank kriff.
“Ren.” He growled and dashed to the man’s side. Back. Body. He hit the floor with his knees and sucked up the shock of impact.
“Hux,” Kylo croaked as he turned onto his back with Hux’s assistance. “Not yet.”
“No worries.” Hux’s gaze flicked to where he dropped the blaster. “You scared the kriff out of me, you realize that?”
“You recall what I told you.” Kylo coughed hard. Hux laid his hand on Kylo’s throat, then slid it around to support his head. “Your life will never be dull.”
“I’m relieved your life is still intact.”
The Knight of Ren’s eyelids fluttered and slit open. Fresh, tiny rivulets of blood trickled from the edges of his facial scars. Hux also noticed a bruise forming along one side of Kylo’s lip as he attempted a smile.
Kylo never looked more handsome. He returned the smile but Kylo’s face suddenly turned pale and slack. “Just mine?” he asked. “Tell me you didn’t…”
“No.” Hux reached into his pocket and took out the capsule. He rolled it between his gloved fingers, high above Kylo’s eyes for confirmation. “I have it still. I’m fine.”
The atmosphere lightened with Kylo’s sigh of relief. He nodded and motioned for help to sit up. Hux asked if he required a med droid. Kylo refused. He intended to stand and walk out of here on his own.
“What happened here?” Hux asked. He listened to Kylo’s halting speech and processed every important point. Though he might have guessed. Kylo killed Snoke. Brought down the Guard with the girl’s help. Came within a porg’s whisker of bringing her to their side when the Resistance attack bisected the ship. No matter. That battle, they’d complete soon. For now…
“We haven’t much time,” Hux told him, grasping Kylo by the waist as helped the man to his feet. He’d ordered all personnel to abandon the Supremacy and they were next. “Your ship is ready, Supreme Leader.” He liked the sound of that. Kylo, too, from the way he straightened his posture. “I’ll walk you down.”
“You’re coming with me.”
They wouldn’t fit together in that cramped cockpit. “I already have–”
Kylo eyed him sharply. “We will make room, Grand Marshall Hux,” he said. “You are not leaving my side.” The Supreme Leader punctuated that statement with a hard kiss.
Hux met Kylo’s gaze. The acrid scent of Snoke’s defeat ripened, but Hux took it in without so much as a twitch of discomfort. He couldn’t revel in the blood of their detractors but he was grateful to have seen the aftermath, the proof of their first step toward victory.
He slipped his arm around Kylo’s. The knight took his hand and Hux realized Kylo’s intent.
“You won’t need this anymore,” Kylo said, crushing the pill into dust as they left the throne. He wiped his gloves clean, leaving behind the residue of a contingency plan, an escape in the event of failure.
Hux stared straight ahead as they walked. Kylo was right. Best to leave the fear in this room.
And take only the power.