Snoke was dead.

Hux watched the lifeless body of his now-defunct Supreme Leader hit the floor with a finality which left him with no doubt that Snoke was finished. Feeling the tension and fear which had gripped him throughout this final battle begin to ebb away he could not help the vicious grin which graced his features as he marched forward to celebrate the victory with the man who had finally succeeded in killing the untouchable Sith lord.

Kylo Ren stood breathless as he stared at his dead master. The battle had been hard fought and he could feel the blood from his various wounds very slowly trickling down his back. He registered Hux's presence beside him with a small tilt of his head.

"It is finished then?" Hux asked, almost giddy from their success.

"Almost. We only have one task left to complete." Ren responded, his deep voice lacking any excitement, and without warning he extended his red saber and thrust the hilt into Hux's hand, "You need to kill me."

The soft words met Hux's ears and caused him to physically recoil as if he had been struck, even as his hand tightened instinctively around the saber. "What?" He hissed in surprise, his elation at their victory deflating rapidly as he stared Ren down.

"I have nothing left. The Knights are no more. My family have been destroyed and my one goal of eliminating the man responsible has been fulfilled. We have succeeded in our plans." Ren confessed, his tone devoid of all emotion, his fate accepted. "You will take your place in the seat of power that has been carved out for you. You will be Emperor and you will rule unchallenged. We have seen to that. You do not need me at your side."

Hux could feel the certainty behind Ren's words and he knew beyond doubt that he was serious. He felt an odd ache inside his chest as he realised that Ren believed that he had served his only purpose in life and was now to be disposed of.

To an extent, he had spoken the truth and Hux could not deny him that. His comrades and remaining family had been slowly eliminated as the galaxy-wide conflict grew more bloodied and brutal and, if he honest with himself, it would almost be a kindness to put Ren out of his misery.

But Hux was a selfish creature and, launching Ren's saber to the side carelessly, he pulled the taller man in for a searing kiss as he allowed his desire for him to continue living to flood his mind and power his actions.

"I may not need you at my side Ren," he whispered as he broke away, "but have you considered the possibility that I want you by my side? Would that be asking too much of you? My rule as Emperor would lack a certain charm if you were not at my side." He confessed in a rush.

After all the losses and the pain they had suffered in their pursuit of power.

After all the abhorrent but necessary acts they had inflicted on their enemies.

Ren could not leave him now. Hux would not allow it.

They would rule.

Together.