Chapter Text
Hux stormed onto the bridge, his shoulders rigid and tight, a death grip on his datapad. He was always particularly tense during this time of year. With everyone drunk on “holiday spirit” someone had to keep things running smoothly.
Right now, however, his malice was directed at one person: Ren…which wasn’t anything abnormal. As the doors slid shut behind him he stood glaring at the brute, who was looming over one of consoles as if he had any idea what it was for.
“Ren!” he called, raising his voice just below a shout to get the knight's attention. “Would you like to tell me about these transactions made under my name?” he bit out coldly, thrusting his datapad forward.
Ren turned slowly, his expression concealed by his mask, but Hux could almost taste the annoyance radiating off of him. “If they were made under your name, shouldn’t you be asking yourself, General?” he replied sarcastically.
“I know these orders were not placed by me!”
Kylo brushed him off, going to turn away again. “You’ve ordered things in your sleep before.”
Hux gripped the datapad tighter, shocked that the screen didn’t crack. “I know these are not mine because I have no desire to purchase Life Day robes! They would not have been anywhere in my search history.”
“I don’t need to know your search history, General.”
“I know these were made by you. I am losing my patience—stop wasting my time!”
Kylo stepped towards him, looming over the smaller man. Hux did not step back. He was used to Ren’s attempts at intimidation.
“I would have been more upfront if you hadn’t locked the capability to make purchases on my data pad!” the knight spat, tensing his muscles as he balled his gloved hands into fists.
“Perhaps if you didn’t spend the First Order's funds so frivolously we would not be having this issue!” Hux retorted, but Ren acted as if he didn’t hear.
“My purchases were necessary, since I could not place the order myself, I used your datapad instead. The codes were easy to retrieve from your min—”
“I’m deleting the orders,” Hux stated bluntly, cutting him off.
“No, you will leave them as they are,” Ren growled.
Hux scrolled through the purchases once more, looking at them with bewilderment.
“This is ridiculous! 19,000 Life Day Orbs?! You expect me to take this seriously?”
Ren seethed as Hux continued.
“We don't even celebrate Life Day! We’re already working on a skeleton crew with the majority of the officers on shore leave for the holiday. What’s so important about these pointless ceremonies anyway?”
“They just…” Ren huffed, turning quickly, causing his cape to billow in Hux’s face. “They just are!”
“If you have no legitimate reasoning I will be deleting your orders.”
“You will not!”
“It is done—”
Before Hux could finish his sentence he was thrust into the wall. He winced as his head collided with the transparisteel, and gritted his teeth as the knight held him up by the collar of his uniform. His coat fell unceremoniously from his shoulders, where it crumpled on the ground beneath his feet.
“Do not test me, General. I am angered easily.”
Hux spoke with clenched teeth, glaring at the knight, who looked back at him with the cold emotionless stare of his mask’s visor. “I wasn’t aware you were such a petulant child. Now unhand me. I would rather like to report to my briefing on time.”
Kylo dropped Hux, who only took a second to readjust himself.
“Fine. Go to your briefing.”
Hux was almost surprised he was let go so easily. There was something strange going on with Ren he couldn’t quite pinpoint. He seemed unfocused—well, less focused than he was usually. As if something was nagging at him.
“We’re both required at the briefing. I simply wanted this matter handled first,” Hux said, trying to be discreet about picking his coat up from the floor. “If you checked your datapad more frequently maybe you would know that.”
“I broke it.”
“Ah.” Hux exclaimed, brushing off his coat and heading for the door. “Then I shall use the money we saved from not buying all your Life Day wear to replace it.”
“Not out of my salary?” Ren questioned jokingly, but it was clear he wasn’t in the mood to be humorous.
“Take it as Life Day spirit.”
“I wasn’t aware that was something you had.”
Hux rolled his eyes and the two of them exited the bridge.