#leaderen

perhaps there had been tension in the air between them carefully captured by the label of amidala, but aiya had decided that the only permanent effect it would have on their relationship was that kylo would never again underestimate what he would do to get what he wanted. things were coming together precisely how he wanted it to –– a sense of security about their hold on kylo, another knight returning from the past hopefully without the promise of betrayal that had come with others, and even the arrangement with seventh sister was quite pleasing. a few kinks left to be sorted, hux, fn-2187, but nothing that wasn’t mostly modulated.

Rationally speaking, Hux was aware that medbay space was limited after the Hapes debacle. It was only logical, for security purposes, that high-ranking personnel be sequestered away from the injured rank and file. It made sense on paper. He’d approved the policy. He did not approve of having his life-threatening injuries on display in front of Kylo kriffing Ren.

What little remained of his left leg now ended just over halfway down his thigh. The worst of the mess had been cleaned, but a medical droid was still rewiring his nerves for a prosthetic. Hux gritted his teeth against the tiny electrical shocks. His anger found an outlet as he glared across at his unwelcome roommate.  “Stop looking, Ren!”

fear was the path to the dark side. trilla had heard it many times in the temple as a child and thought that she would have never been the kind to succumb to such feelings, and yet here she was... far away from the jedi, some conglomeration of light and dark. doing something good had brought some relief, taken away some of the distress of the dark side that had followed her around. but she hadn’t been able to rid herself of it. paranoia was still crippling, the darkness still wrapped around her presence, threatening to squeeze out the light. it pushed her toward rash decisions. that was the only explanation for this.

Hux’s strides faltered as he approached Ren’s quarters. He loathed every instant of his own hesitation. With Kylo Ren’s return to the First Order still so fresh in both their memories   (indeed, equally fresh bruises lurked beneath the crisp black of Hux’s uniform)   he had no way of knowing how Ren would respond to his appearance with such unexpected news. Then again, he always had been unpredictable. Hux forced his mind to a still, quiet place as the door slid open.

“Ren.” His mouth half-opened to utter an announcement that died on his lips. Eyes scanning Ren’s face with the precision of a computer, Hux spoke with certainty and hushed awe. “You felt it.” He must have. What good would he be to Hux if he hadn’t? “Tell me what you saw.”

meeting him in person would have proved to be far too dangerous. even if there was no clear evidence to point them toward padmé’s kidnapping, after the last conversation that they had face to face, it would not have been much of a stretch to assume that he was responsible. still, they’d been careful to keep himself off of the video, for the sake of it being passed onto the public eye. he would not go public about who the cause behind it really was, because he wouldn’t have a choice. he’d been standing amongst their ranks once more. matters of the new republic would no longer be of concern.