Chapter Text
Starkiller Base was gone. Years of work, gone. His pride and joy, gone.
Kylo Ren lay in a bed in the medical center and he was thoroughly tempted to take that Sithspawn off of life support at that moment. Never in his life had he felt so broken, so humiliated. He knew what was in store for him; demotion. A fate that was on par with death, at this point.
He had met his greatest fear, face to face. Failure. He put down the expensive bottle of whiskey that he had been about to throw across the room. Failure. His greatest enemy, the one he had never quite vanquished. Failure. It tasted like blood and snow and casualty reports. The most powerful man in the First Order, brought low by terrorists. He had failed the First Order, and most importantly, himself. All of his achievements had been building up to this blinding crescendo and it had vanished as he watched. Despite all of his anguish, he felt something for the Sith who lay senseless in the medical bed, the same something that had possessed him to bring him back to the ship. It must be pity, he mused. He faces a fate worse than mine.
General Hux straightened his shoulders, smoothing the planes of his uniform. He had sulked enough. He would face his fear. And finally, the memories of all the people who had called him a coward would be silenced.
…………………..
“What could there possibly be left for me now? I put my all into this and once more, it blew up in my face. How could I face Snoke after this..” Kylo sighed and rolled over, squeezing his eyes shut as hard as he could. maybe , just maybe, if he couldn't see his failures. They would just go away. Instead, all he could picture was his father’s body slumping over and that girl…. That damn nobody girl who played a huge role in taking everything he had.
“Now isn't the time for a tantrum.” He heard Hux say, no, think from across the room. He was hearing his thoughts again. Kylo didn’t quite mind, not as much as he used to. His thoughts were soothing and managed to quell some of the worry bubbling up inside of him.
Hux’s mind was ordered and precise, cold, and beautifully ruthless, on par with him. He took pleasure in reading ordnance reports, in managing, directing, and being able to gauge any situation in seconds. Kylo liked how his mind felt, and he was shameless in tasting it, especially when he was angry. His anger fed Kylo’s, made him better, faster. He’d relished in it when he’d dipped into the General’s mind after the scavenger girl escaped him.
Hux’s order was his chaos. Everything he did affected Kylo. It made him want to stand taller and prouder, to be the man Snoke wanted him to be, to be the fearless leader that others admired him for. He felt like he had to prove himself to Hux and instead he had miserably failed the most important mission he could have ever received. The anger from Snoke couldn’t hurt nearly as much as the disappointment he assumed, no, knew, Hux had felt. He should have relished in the pain and the anger the ginger felt, but instead, it... hurt. It hurt him to see how far General Hux had fallen, because of him, and how much further the man would descend.
Much to Kylo’s surprise, he found no traces of what happened in Hux’s thoughts. Was he blocking them out? Was he that ashamed? As far as Kylo was concerned, Hux’s mind was... normal. It was unsettling. “I don't understand.” He whispered quietly, “He should be furious right now.” Kylo would have preferred the General just yell at him now and get it over with.
“Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, Lord Ren.” General Hux swept into the room and the look on his face said that he knew exactly what Kylo was thinking. “Snoke wishes for us to make our report.”
Kylo could not stop the way his features relaxed at the sight of the officer despite the stinging words he delivered next. “You’ve quite outdone yourself this time, my lord.” The man’s manner was as dignified as ever, even if laced with his signature icy countenance. Kylo watched the man note that Kylo had disconnected himself from the life support system, narrowing his eyes.
Kylo pulled himself out of the bed, silently wishing it were his grave instead. At the very least the silence would be comforting, rather than a cascade of warnings that foretold danger.
“I’ve never seen you this quiet before.” Hux remarked. “Did the girl get your tongue as well as your face?”
Kylo didn’t rise to the bait, earning a surprised look from the General. He was just too exhausted and terrified of what awaited them to play these games now.
“So you finally realize the gravity of this situation?” Hux asked in a grave tone.
Kylo couldn’t hide the air of defeat he gave off.
“So that’s it then?!” Hux finally snapped, “You’ve got nothing to say to me?”
Kylo didn’t even bother to look his way. With whatever punishment Snoke had in mind, it wouldn’t even matter anyway.
Hux, on the other hand, was now seething. “You petulant child. Do you not care at all? You’re just gonna bow your head in defeat and accept failure? You disgust me! You’re disgusting! You know what? You are just like Darth Vader. He fell so hard, so easily. He let one little brat get to him and look at you now. You’re just like your precious grandfather.” Each word was laced with venom, cutting deep into Kylo.
A semblance of his former anger returned and Kylo sent Hux flying across the room. “How unbecoming of you, general. You’re more scared than I am. I can see it. You can’t hide a damn thing from me.” Kylo glared at him. The spots of color high on the General’s pale face inflamed him and Kylo realized that he wanted nothing more than to be close to him, to smell the heat of his anger and pull his hair.
“You’re a disgrace.” Hux spat and scrambled up. He looked like a wild animal, eyes fierce and hair falling out of its carefully combed arrangement. Kylo went after him, leaping out of the bed and pinned his arms above his head, even as Hux bucked, trying to escape. “Let me go you beast!” The Sith bit Hux’s earlobe hard, earning him a surprised shout and a twist of his body as he thrashed wildly. The movement sent a spark of heat into Kylo’s mind and he crowded the smaller man against the wall. A flick of his head and the door locked behind him. Hux’s eyes widened. “What the fuck Ren! You’re being-” He felt the long, hard line of Kylo’s cock against his and Kylo ground against him experimentally.
“Oh, what was I being? I can’t quite remember. Would you care to enlighten me General,” and he shifted his hips, oh yes, the General was very interested, “On what I am being?”. He paused, “Would you say it is battle lust?”
Hux diverted his gaze from Kylo to the ground as he desperately tried to think of a cunning reply and Kylo used the force to pin Hux down, dragging him to the ground and kissing him until Hux began to beat against his chest, screaming for air, even as he undressed him. It was only when Hux looked like he was seeing stars that he let go.
Hux wasted no time punching Kylo in the jaw. The man’s head snapped back almost preternaturally and then around to look back at him. Kylo made no move to stop him from raising his fist again and instead leaned forward, a hand on each of Hux’s shoulders and said, “Your anger is pointless. Snoke is probably going to kill us. So why not fuck all your frustrations away?”
“Damn you.” Hux snarled. He pushed Kylo back and Kylo gave, more out of indulgence than a lack of strength. Something seemed to flicker in his pale eyes and he stalked forward, prompting Kylo to move backwards until he fell onto the bed. Hux climbed on top of him, his face cold and cruel and and crushed their mouths together, teeth clacking with the force of it. His hands undid the buttons of the cloak and tabard all the while furiously biting at his lips, his neck, anywhere that would leave a mark. “I hate you,” hissed the General. “You are an intolerable, insufferable animal, with no self control and you need someone to take you in hand,” and at that, he gripped Kylo’s dick, almost hard enough to bruise, and pulled at it, eliciting a yelp from the Sith. In all his frustrations, he did not notice the prominent smirk adorning Kylo’s features, taking pride in the fact that he had one-upped the General.
Kylo dug his nails into the back of Hux’s neck, pulling him closer. “Show me how much you hate me.” He buried his face into Hux’s hair and growled.
“Yes, my lord .” Hux sneered before flipping the man over. He spat onto his fingers and smeared the saliva onto his member, before ramming into Kylo, reveling in the ragged scream that escaped him. Kylo did not how to move, stunned in the sheer force that Hux was employing in fucking him into the bed. The heart rate monitor beeped wildly and he was sure that someone would try to come in any minute. “Scream for me, my lord. ”
Kylo moaned at the commands that escaped Hux’s mouth. For the first time, Kylo couldn’t read his mind as it was in complete disarray, because he was too busy falling apart as every thrust hit his prostate. The General’s skin had a coat of sweat on it and he seemed to glow feverishly in the brightness of the quarters. They had not dimmed the lights and Kylo could count every freckle on the skin of Hux’s arm as he pushed into him from behind, over and over again. Wanting to be even closer, Kylo moved his hand until he was grasping the General’s forearm and rested his forehead against it. Hux grunted in surprise, but let him, a strangely sweet gesture amidst the cruelty.
“Please..” Kylo clung to him, begging, “Please….” His words were incoherent and he was losing himself. He didn’t know what he wanted, except to stay in here with Hux and forget about the world. He needed him. It sickened him to admit it. He let the sensations carry him, focusing on the brilliant mind of the General, letting it guide him. I’m going to come, he thought dizzily and he heard Hux reply “I know Ren,” and he sighed as he came and felt Hux shudder his release a moment later and pull out roughly, leaving him lying on the bed, feeling strangely empty.
Afterwards, there were no words exchanged, no encouraging smiles, no eye contact. The men redressed themselves on opposite sides of the room and mentally steeled themselves for what was to come. Hux appeared to have shut down completely.
The two men made their way to their leader, neither speaking to the other. Even their footsteps, which usually echoed in unison in the halls, were an offbeat cacophony of noise, bouncing horribly off the durasteel walls. Unity. They had been so close to achieving it, Kylo had felt it in his bones and yet, they’d fallen apart at the very last moment. Where had they gone wrong? Was his hatred not strong enough? Was Hux’s determination not strong enough?
When they finally reached the chamber, both reached for the controls at the same time. Kylo’s hand had covered his and Hux simply looked at him, expressionless. The door slid open and he moved forward, while Kylo stared after him and grabbed for his sleeve. His fingers tangled in the material and Hux stumbled backwards.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Hux hissed, as if nothing had just happened.
“You think Snoke is going to kill you.” Kylo stated plainly. Horror bubbled to the surface at the thought and he knew Hux could see it. He had lost control of his emotions awhile back-had he ever truly been in control?
“Hardly. People like me are indispensable and your master, unlike you, is not in the habit of wasting useful things,” Hux sniffed.
Kylo flinched at that comment and stared at him. He released his grip on Hux’s bony wrist. Hux marched forward and the other man finally, finally fell into pace with him, matching him stride for stride. Of course they’d be synchronized just before the hammer fell on them. It was almost ironic and Kylo had to stifle a smirk.
The report was uneventful. Snoke listened in silence as Hux reeled off names, facts, numbers. Every word was precise and damning, a slap to Kylo’s face. Hux was not even trying to shift blame to him-he had screwed up enough by himself. He could still feel the aftereffects of their tryst on his body and he shifted uncomfortably, channeling the pain to feed on.
“Is what he says true, Lord Ren?” Snoke questioned. Kylo looked up a little too quick and he could feel Snoke scrutinizing him.
“It is, my master,” he said, defeated. “Every word. I take responsibility for Starkiller’s base.”
“Very well,” the creature replied. “And yet...General Hux, you questioned the wisdom of firing on the Hosnian system. My wisdom. You have served me for so long and yet you doubt me. I sense you are hiding something.”
“My lord, I have no secrets from you,” assured Hux obsequiously.
“Then you will not mind this intrusion, General,” said Snoke and tore into Hux’s mind. Kylo flinched with the viciousness at which Snoke ripped through Hux’s mental barriers and the man froze, pupils blown wide, his face a mask of terror as Snoke ripped mercilessly through his mind, pulling everything he needed out of his loyal general. Kylo stared as blood trickled out of the other man’s mouth and he looked at his master.
You can save him, Ben. Save him.. It sounded like a mixture of his father and his mother, the voice and he could feel the Force thrumming through him at that very moment. Hux’s heart was beating so fast. No human’s heart was supposed to beat so fast. He was balanced on a steep precipice and the Light was closer than ever. He reached for it...
“Master, stop. You’ll kill him,” said Kylo and stepped forward. “Do not punish him for our mistakes. He is our greatest asset.”
“He may be so, Ren, but he is hiding something from me,” replied Snoke. “What is it that he is hiding from me, Kylo Ren? Help me look.”
The Sith turned to the General and felt all the final pieces of the puzzle he had not realized that he was solving slide into place and the universe righted itself. His fear was gone. Reaching out, he laid his fingertips on Hux’s temple and dove into his mindscape.
Hux was like a trembling butterfly pinned helplessly on a counter as Snoke dug through the ordered planes of his mind, looking, looking, looking. Kylo bent over him and Hux, impossibly reached up and out and seized his collar.
“Kylo what the fuck is going on,” the man wheezed out. “Kylo, get him out of my head!”
Kylo looked at Snoke, the formidable presence. He was trying to open a book, one of the many that lined the walls. He made a fist and the book caught fire and Snoke dropped it, cursing. The fire leapt up the walls and it surrounded him and Hux.
“What did you do to me?” Hux screeched, the fire reflected back in his eyes. “Why am I ON FIRE?”
“I don’t know,” replied Kylo sadly. He had always been more of a sledgehammer than a scalpel, “But it will keep you safe, I promise. You have my word that I will protect you, Brendol Hux. I will save you. ”
And then, he kissed him, sealing that vow.
Fire bloomed in the center of Hux’s chest, underneath the hand Kylo was using to balance himself on him and Kylo watched as it spread, up his arms and collar and finally his face.
Suddenly, they were back in the cool, dark chamber of the audience room. Hux lay on the floor, looking for all the world like a puppet whose strings had been cut. His eyes were closed, breaths fast and shallow.
Snoke was laughing, full-bodied gusts of mirth. “He loves you, Lord Ren. That is what he sought to hide from me all this time! The poor, poor fool! He loves you and does not even know it! Tell me, Lord Ren, do you love him too? There is no need for me to kill him, as he so feared. He has done me a great service by taming your more...base impulses. But,” he chuckled, “I’d have thought he’d be the one taking, not, ah, giving.”
“What do you mean, Master?” asked Kylo. He was unable to tear his eyes away from the awful blankness that had settled on Hux’s blanched face, the way his chest rose and fell faintly. He was dying, the Force trickling out of his body like sand from spilled ballast. Two powerful masters of the Force had just torn through his mind. It was almost impossible to imagine that the man in front of him had been thoroughly fucking him not less than half an hour ago.
“Han Solo loved you, Kylo Ren, so much that he would rather die at your hand than leave. So will General Hux, my apprentice. He is your final tie to the Light. Once he is gone, you will have mastered the power of the Dark Side.” Snoke leaned back and placed the tips of his fingers together. “Your training will finally be complete, Ren, when you kill him. I await that day eagerly. Do not make me wait too much.”
The hologram faded and Kylo dropped to his knees, pulling the General close. “Hux,” he said desperately. “HUX!”
Hux made a small, choked noise as he looked up at Kylo. “Lord Ren,” he breathed, “You’ve caught me at a rather bad time,” he sighed and his heart stopped completely.
“NO,” roared Kylo. The door of the room blew into the hallway and he let out an animalistic scream, hitting Hux’s chest. “YOU WILL NOT DIE ON ME YOU STUPID SON OF A BITCH!” He hit him again and heard the faint flutter beneath his chest. He hit him again, and again and then he picked him up, threw him over his shoulder and ran for the medical bay, paging it even as he went.