Listen. Listen. I have fallen down a pit and I can't get out and its all Juulna's fault (as most things are when it comes to me shipping Hux with anyone).
Inspired by these arts:
post/139656077511/prince-ben-organa-solo-and-bodyguardjedirey
post/139683805187/warmup-sketch-amidala-bens
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Star Wars or any of its characters. This is just for my own (twisted) amusement and not for profit.
Chapter 1: Catalyst
Kylo quite liked the view from his office.
The best view in all of Coruscant: that is what his predecessor told him.
The one who came before him was all pomp and flash, wearing ornate robes at all times, when the Senate was called, even when just sitting in his office.
Kylo would be the first to admit that he appreciated the pageantry that came with the position, the elegance and splendor, but he was not planning on going anywhere that particular day, the Senate not to be called for another three days. So he wore black clothes, the gold trim the only indication that he was someone important. It was a less formal version of what he normally wore to the Senate floor.
It had been a month since his election, after fierce opposition, enough smear campaigns to last a lifetime. Sleepless nights, worrying about his campaign, looking over his shoulder for his disgruntled opponents.
He was tired, still, even after it was all said and done. The stress multiplied after he was sworn in, much to his dismay.
All of the work, the paperwork. It was endless. Constantly bothered some senator or lobbyist or another whenever he dared step out of his office.
There was a moment's peace. Enough for him to look out onto the city skyline. He could allow himself to feel large and small at the same time.
"Lord Ren, it is the Temple," a man's voice sounded behind him, a constant beeping sound accompanying his words.
And, like that, the peace was broken.
Kylo rolled his eyes, turning towards his captain of the guard and his adviser. Hux lounged in one of the armchairs in front of his desk, like he always did. He often joked about why he kept the redhead around, but his mind told him to keep what few allies he had close.
His eyes fell to the glowing machine atop his desk. The Jedi never stopped bothering him, did they?
Support this, avoid that, do this, do not do that. That was all he ever heard from them. Constantly bossing him around. Because he was young, the youngest person ever to have this position. Because he was new, again, only a month into his term. Because they had the Force that that made them inherently wiser than of the blood that ran through his veins.
His finger hovered over the holo-projector, wishing that he could just ignore it. But he quickly learned that fighting against the Jedi's wanting to communicate would only get him unwanted visitors.
Kylo only had to hope that it was something menial that he could just pretend to note and forget about.
"Master Skywalker. How may I be of assistance?" Kylo said, dispassionately.
Of all the Jedi in the fucking galaxy, it had to have been him. The one he disliked the most. The one who knew everything about him.
The small projection of the Grand Master of the Jedi Temple looked at him sternly, if not concerned for him. Not a paternal, condescending kind of concern, the kind he was used to, but a 'we think something is wrong and it has to do with you' kind of concern.
"We have received word through local intelligence that someone has placed a bounty on your life," the Jedi said, without further ado.
Kylo only raised an eyebrow. Hux had gotten up from where he was sitting, moving to stand by Kylo's side.
"Indeed?" Kylo only said, his voice dry and unaffected, despite the instinct to clench his teeth.
If they were trying to get him to show some kind of weakness, it was not going to happen. He had enough of that from the idiots in the Alderaan Senate, the idiots in the Galactic Senate, the ones that followed him since he was a child. He was not going to deal with this, no sir.
"Many people have threatened to kill me, Master Jedi. I do not see the need for alarm. Good day."
He turned off the holo-projector before the old man could get another word in.
Hux turned to him, clearly alarmed.
"Lord Ren…Kylo, shouldn't you be more concerned? If the Jedi saw fit to speak to you…"
He slashed the air dismissively.
"It is nothing, Hux. Nothing to worry about."
He turned back, reaching for the flimsi that contained a summary of the recent Senate meeting, effectively dismissing the subject.
But Hux was not having it. "I must insist. The safety protocols…"
"Stuff the protocols," Kylo spat, turning in his chair almost violently to glare at the other man. "I am not so weak as to need them now."
Hux clenched his jaw and turned to glare at the empty holo-projector like it personally offended him. Kylo almost regretted his words. He wanted to apologize, but that was not in his character. A man of his rank does not apologize for losing his temper. Hux was lucky he did not throw something at his head.
One of the many things his political opponents liked to use as a weapon against him: his so-called anger issues.
What a crock of—.
Phip.
The glass cracked with an undramatic noise, the outside winds now flowing through the newly made hole.
A smoking mark, the smell of burning flesh, a strangled noise.
Hux fell as if in slow motion, eyes rolling to be back of his head. Kylo was out of his seat in an instant, the chair crashing to the floor as he tried to catch his falling ally, his confidante.
The white-clad soldiers who were standing at the door rushed him, trying to pry him off Hux's form. Kylo fought them off, rage and panic coloring his vision, making the world turn hazy.
The redhead was still breathing. He was still breathing, the bolt through his back into his chest. But the fucking Stormtroopers were fawning over him, not the dying man who was at his feet.
"Medic! Get a medic, dammit!" Kylo screamed, having half a mind to punch the nearest soldier in the helmet.
Hux could not leave him alone surrounded by a pack of imbeciles, he would not allow it.
...
Rey watched as Luke turned to her.
The recent report: an attempt on the Supreme Chancellor's life.
Luke sighed, looking grave.
"Go to the Chancellor's office immediately. Protect him with your life.
TA DA! I HAVE NO FUCKING SHAME.
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Cheers!
~Tiara of Sapphires.