My eternal struggle with the Star Wars universe Republic: Is it like the United Nations? A giant country? Like seriously how legally binding are the decisions they make really? Because each planet seems to still maintain its own form of government and they can break from it at any time and UGH. Having a person who studies law as a sister really makes me too aware of things like this and they bother the crap out of me (and that's before we get me started on the Jedi and how the fuck they fit into all of this). Added onto that the fact the New Republic probably works a little different than the old one and well... I'm just gonna' avoid actually explaining it as best I can here.
Also everyone's a bit younger. Like ~5 years younger.
Apparently deaging them and switching to this verse makes me write Hux as just head-over-heels falling in love with Kylo, and it's so funny to me because that's not how I normally write them at all.
Warnings: a few problematic statements (Hux is the POV character here), implications of talking about rape, some talk about of-age characters lusting after an underage character
Now available in Spanish: fanfiction s / 12138661 / 1 / Invisible-lives-Traducción
Senator Ben Amidala
Hux doesn't actually want to be here. He hates them all. Hates these phony politicians of the Republic. Acting as if they are making democratic decisions when really they are just holding tea parties while the galaxy slowly decays into rot.
He has to be there though. Has to play nice with them until the project is complete. Then he can destroy them all and start to repair all the damage they have done. Until then he will smile and play their game and imagine their eventual deaths.
At least there will be some point of interest for this meeting: the attendance of the younger heir to the Skywalker legacy. Ben Amidala (born Ben Solo and Hux finds the decision to change surname like that only more evidence of the Republic's petty attempts to return to old failures) has of course been attending meetings and playing political games for many years now (not that Hux has met him yet). Rey Skywalker (there is a betting pool among some of the First Order officers about how long she will keep her surname – Hux things it's stupid, Skywalker is a very different name in connotation than Solo), being 10 years younger than her cousin is only just 15 and finally making her debut appearance. In a public debate that is. Hux wouldn't be at all surprised if she has already played the political game in smaller, safer, meetings with those already strongly tied to the family.
She is the real reason everyone is here. None of them care about the matter on the table. All excited at the prospect of fresh political blood. It is the reason Hux is there as well. He is to assess how she handles herself and the situation. To evaluate exactly how much of a threat she is than report back to the Supreme Leader. If all goes well there may be a promotion on the table for him.
The room falls to a hush and it appears that the guests of honour have arrived. Hux knew the two Skywalker's were attractive. It was something that was mentioned on every report about them he had read the previous night to help prepare to complete his objective (to see what information was lacking and what needed clarifying). Plus, there was always the odd crude joke by officers of what they would do to that Senator if he managed to survive the fall of the New Republic. It still takes Hux a moment to return to his awareness of everything that is going on in the room when they walk in. And even then it is only a brief glance to ensure nobody else had made any sudden moves before he returns his attention to the new occupants.
They are wearing similar robes in style but not colour. Senator Amidala wrapped in dark purples and blacks, accented by gold stitching and rings while his cousin was in red and while, silver stitching and jewellery on her. Their faces were painted so thick with makeup so no part of the skin was left uncovered to the naked eye. There was a noticeable height different between the two and Hux's attention was soon dragged onto the Senator despite his orders to analyse Rey. Hux wonders if his skin is as pale as the makeup suggests or if it was intentionally lightened to enhance the contrast with his dark hair and eyes. He wonders what the skin looks like under its casing. Wonders if there are any birthmarks or freckles that are hidden beneath on the wide expanse of body. He wonders what the Senator's skin would taste like.
Despite what Hux had assumed from his second-hand accounts of him the Senator is not so feminine looking to be androgynous. Despite the clothing's best attempts to hide it it is still clear that he has broad shoulders and a strong frame. In another life he could be a deadly fighter (he might still be in this life and Hux makes a mental note to add that to his report – he will not allow the First Order to fall because they underestimated a potential threat).
The Senator can apparently sense that he is being watched and his eyes meet Hux's. He raises an eyebrow and smirks with those black painted lips and Hux scowls. He wants to knock that smirk off his face, or maybe turn it into a gasped out moan. Either way he wants to see the man struggle for breath.
Hux tries to direct his attention back onto Rey but she does not maintain it for long. Sure, she is attractive, her body far enough along in puberty to not look like that of a girls (especially with how her robes are cut in a way that's supposed to make her look older). There are plenty of eyes in the room that are trained to her for her looks. In a few years when she marries (if she survives) her husband will be a very happy man.
She does not hold a candle to her cousin though, at least not in Hux's eyes and he soon finds them wandering back over to the Senator. Who smirks again but doesn't return his gaze this time. Instead his attention is focused on the man who has just approached him. Introducing his cousin to the other Senator.
Hux actually does his job and watches as the introductions go around. Each politician demanding their share of Rey Skywalker's time and her cousin fielding them off when they stuck around for too long. She was certainly able to handle herself in conversation and seemed to easily roll with the more eccentric politicians habits. Hux does notice, once or twice, when someone gets too close to her, too handsy, she shifts her body just so to deflect them away. They don't notice, or likely think it is unintentional or an accident but Hux sees. It was something worth reporting.
The assembly is called in soon enough and Hux watches as all the Senators move out of the room. Watches as Ben Amidala disappears though a doorway, Rey trailing close behind him.
The few minutes before the public is allowed in are torturous. Watching all the up-and-coming politicians nervously mill around is agonising. They are not yet important enough to really hold any sway in the pathetic system but believe they do from the way it is set up. They believe they have a right to their opinion and that everyone else must hear it. They believe they are rightfully deserving of some of the time of everyone, of anyone. They were the ones most desperately clambering at the Senator and his cousin. And now they are all talking about them, about how pretty they both looked, how regal. Talking as if they have the right to judge such things. As if they had the right to enjoy them. It is a memory Hux plans on drawing on when he eventually makes the order that will seal all their dooms.
The public viewing opens and Hux spends the next hour trying to listen to what the current speaker is saying despite his knowledge of how little of importance it is. His eyes glance over each representative, trying to find the face that had previously so engaged his attention.
He finds Ben Amidala and Rey Skywalker when the Senator stands to speak. He hasn't got much to say, just to introduce his cousin and hand the floor over to her. Still, Hux swears his words are infinitely more interesting than anyone else's. Although that just might be the voice behind them and Hux wonders what it will sound like moaning out his name or demands for harder, faster, that Hux will of course fulfil.
He wonders what other things those lips could do. Is sure they would look wonderful wrapped around his dick, the eyes dark with lust as Hux guides his up and down by his dark hair.
He manages to focus his attention on what is happening in the room when Rey starts to speak.
Rey Skywalker speaks well for a 15 year old. She holds herself strong and says what she has to say in a clear tone that demands to be listened to without sounding petulant. With a few more years of experience she could defiantly be a threat to anyone who opposes her in a verbal fight. She is one to watch out for.
After she sits down and Hux finishes his notes he returns his attention onto her cousin. The senator has a proud smile on his face but it soon dissolves into a mask of passiveness. His eyes find Hux and Hux knows the Senator knows he has been taking notes during Rey's speech. There is an intensity about them that makes him want to shiver. He won't. He has been too well trained to shrink under the mere intense gaze of another being.
The rest of the meeting isn't actually important. Hux hadn't been sent there to actually care about whatever it was the Republic was arguing about that day. He had been sent to analyse how Rey Skywalker conducted herself and he had plenty of notes about that now that he could turn into a report that night. He was free to watch Senator Amidala for the rest of the time. He is free to contemplate exactly what he wants to do to said Senator, contemplate all the different things he'd like to try. To wonder what is hidden from everyone's view by clothes and makeup.
Eventually they are freed for lunch. Most of the politicians flee outside to catch some fresh air while also trying to gain the favour of whoever holds a higher position than them.
Hux hangs back, waiting to see where Rey Skywalker (and her cousin) go during their break. He cares little about sucking up to the rabble of politicians and would rather watch to see if she revealed anything else that might be useful during the period of technical-downtime (anyone with a brain knows the period between the meetings was just as important as the meetings themselves).
Eventually the two of them exit the main hall. Senator Amidala talking to his cousin in a low voice before ushering her outside. Hux wonders if he should follow but then the Senator walks over to him and he has little want to see where the girl is going.
"I don't believe we have been introduced," the Senator says, holding his hand out, "I'm Ben Amidala."
"Hux," Hux replies taking the hand offered and giving it a firm shake (which the Senator easily matches).
"Do you have a last name Hux?"
"That is my last name."
"A first name then?"
"Not one I give easily."
The Senator gives a hum in the back of his throat and claims a seat on the bench Hux is been standing next to. "That is something I understand," he says and suddenly Hux finds himself re-evaluating the choice to abandon his father's name in favour of his grandmother's.
"Really?"
"Yes." The Senator lets the silence fall and Hux realises it is now his job to fill it. His job to offer up a topic of conversation. There are so many routes he could take. All of them motivated by either person or professional obligation to differing extents.
"You're cousin spoke well today all things considering." He will not abandon his obligations to the First Order just because of some pretty face. No matter how captivating said face is.
"She did." They both turn to look out of the open doors, where Rey Skywalker is only just in view being approached by politicians on all sides. Without her cousin as guard they have apparently decided to swarm her in attempts for her attention. The Senator isn't running to her rescue so Hux will get to see how it plays out. "Pathetic."
"I'm sorry?" he turns to look at the Senator and there is a scowl on his face. It quickly disappears back under the mask.
"Nothing."
Hux decides to take a risk with his next words. "Do any of them even care about the matter that was up for discussion?" He knows the answer, but he wants to see how the Senator reacts to the question. Wants to see what lies underneath the mask he has seen a glance under.
"Probably not."
"Then is this all not a waste of resources? Surely there are other ways they could have planned to be able to meet her."
"Defiantly."
"Do you hate them?" Hux makes the question sound idle. Hides the fact he is suddenly thinking all the previous reports had been looking at Ben Amidala wrong. That they had been weighing him up only as a potential threat. That they had misjudged him by not considering whether he could be a potential ally.
The Senator lets a breath out and leans towards Hux. The neck of his robes pulling down so Hux can catch a glimpse of the skin that lies beneath it. It is not as pale as the makeup, but it is pale enough to making a striking contrast against the dark fabric of the robes. He wants to see more. "I will put it this way. There is another name from my family I would rather claim then the one I did."
His eyes hold an intensity to them that makes Hux's mouth go dry. He swallows and licks his lips and only then feels as if he can voice the words his mind has formed. "Then why didn't you."
The Senator sits back and his robes return to where they are supposed to sit, the glimpse of skin covered again. "Amidala serves me much better in my current situation. Names can mean so much when it comes to how others judge you." Which was exactly the reason Hux disliked giving his.
"And if you were in a situation where Amidala no longer served such a purpose?"
"I would re-evaluate to see which of the others I could claim would best help me."
"And if no name would help?"
"I doubt there to be a situation where no name of my family would be of use. If there truly was a one I am sure I could obtain some other name that would serve my needs." Hux wonders what name he would take if they took the throne of the universe together. Hux wonders when Ben Amidala was removed from the list of necessary casualties and onto the much shorter one of those deserving to see the First Order's victory beside him.
Ben watches him closely now with an intensity that would make a weaker man (would make any of the politicians currently collected outside the doors in a swarm around Rey Skywalker) feel the need to duck his head in submission. Hux merely stares right back. The Senator grins. "How about we cut the formalities and you ask what you really want to know."
"And what would that be?" There are many questions he wants to ask the Senator. Especially after the conversation they have had. He is curious which one he means (curious to see if it is even any of the ones Hux wants to ask).
The Senator stands and closes the space between them. He is slightly taller than Hux (something Hux hadn't even noticed until he was standing right there) and ducks his head so his breath comes out warm against Hux's ear. "You must have a hotel room somewhere for this meeting. I suggest we retire there to continue this conversation. And perhaps, if you are lucky, fulfil some of those fantasies that have been running through your mind since I walked into the room."
The Senator pulls away and Hux can feel his mouth has gone dry. Has the Senator been in his mind or had he merely read it on Hux's face? Does he know Hux's true objective for being there? Does he know of the project that waits for Hux deep within the First Order's claimed territory?
If he has seen the plan Hux holds for each and every one of the leaches that are the other Senators and politicians he does not seem horrified of it. Instead he has moved away just enough so Hux can see his face and the anticipation no longer hidden in his eyes.
"Don't you have to go back to the assembly in a few minutes?" There is a clock in the room but it cannot be seen from where they are standing. Not that they would have the time to sneak off to a hotel for conversation or the fulfilment of fantasies even if they had left the very second the break had been called.
"None of us have to be here and I doubt there will be any speeches actually worth listening to. If you allow me to go rescue my cousin from the attention of the others and send her off to our room I can be yours for the rest of the day," the Senator says. Hux has little want to hang around and continue listening to the desperate attempts of the other Senators to justify their presence at the meeting as something other than to ogle the Senator's cousin. He never had patience for empty statements that do not actually say anything. Seeing what the Senator is like when there is no-one else around (and potentially what is like under the layers of robe and makeup) will be a much more useful way of spending the time.
"I doubt you need my permission to go talk to your cousin. I, unlike what you are likely used to seeing the company you have been forced to keep, am not so desperate as to require constant attention to feel self-assured."
"No. I don't think you are anything like what I am used to," the Senator says. His voice deepening with the words and Hux hopes lust is the cause for it. "Stay here."
Hux watches as the Senator walks about the doors and into the swarm of politicians that have not yet tired of their pathetic grappling for Rey Skywalker's attention. Hux watches as Ben politely interrupts the conversation one of them are having with his cousin and manages to get her away from them.
Hux watches as the Senator leans down to have a quiet conversation with his cousin. He has apparently informed her of who he plans on going with because Rey's eyes are quickly trained onto Hux. They have the same intensity as her cousin's (but are nowhere near as captivating in Hux's mind) and Hux knows she will be just as dangerous as her cousin when she is older. He wonders if she will share the same opinions on the other politicians that will fill her life. Hux wonders if the cousins will always be on the same side or if he will watch them go head to head one day. It would certainly be an interesting experience to witness Hux decides. Interesting to see whether, with age and experience, Rey Skywalker will be able to overcome her cousin.
Hux watches the girls expression turn to confusion as her cousin pulls something out of his robes and hides it into hers (Hux cannot see what it is, is sure nobody can see what it is by the way the Senator carefully uses their bodies to mask the transaction – Hux only just barely noticing the movement himself). Rey turns back to her cousin to say something and the Senator gives a reply before leaning down and pressing a kiss to her cheek. Hux watches as she frowns but does not argue. The Senator sends her off and they both watch as she slowly makes her way through the crowd (being stopped by nearly every person she walks past, all wanting to get their last second of her attention).
She does eventually manage to leave and Senator Amidala returns his attention onto Hux. He walks back into the room and smirks as he stands just within arm's reach. A silent tease seeing they both know Hux wants to reach out and touch him but can't. "I believe we have somewhere else to be."
"Yes. I believe we do."
