Hahahah, I keep telling myself I wouldn't do another multi-chaptered thing but here we are again. Then again this is going to be a shorter one, probably no more than ten chapters. And, given I love writing for Hux, there will definitely be a lot more Hux-centric chapters than I usually do.

Basically this is the plot to the "Lights On" video. And if you haven't seen it yet, you're in for a pleasant surprise.

"She Keeps My Mind Calm, Getting a Lot Done"

It started with a text: "Meet me at Guitar Center."

The last conversation they'd had contained something far more mundane: "Can I get a ride to work?", to which Hux replied, "Sure, it's on the way.", and Rey responded, "Thanks. I love you."

This was two days after that. Rey, fresh from making coffee for ungrateful white collars and bearded hipsters, read the text, sent half an hour ago, with wide eyes. Guitar Center? They passed by it all the time at the mall, Hux gazing away from it, completely disinterested. So why did he want to meet there, of all places?

"Sure. Omw."

She didn't think too much of it as she gathered her bag, apron string hanging out as she made her way across the few blocks it took to get to the mall. Her boss could complain all he wanted about the public preferring the likes of Starbucks and Peet's and such, but even he couldn't deny that most people just wanted some goddamn caffeine, and in a pinch they'd settle for anything. Besides, she liked their local nights, their open mics and artists from the area hanging paintings from the walls. On those nights, people tended to be more laid back, wanted their coffee in ceramic mugs to enjoy themselves, rather than be in an angered hurry.

Rey tucked her apron string deeper in her canvas bag as she entered the mall, refreshed by the cooling AC on this warm evening. And she could notice the slicked back, red hair and lanky stance of her boyfriend anywhere. Here he was, standing tall and rigid before the store like it held some deep, important truth within. It was a Guitar Center. How did its mere presence make her boyfriend so stiff?

"Hey," she greeted him with a kiss on the cheek, and he jumped. Raising a brow, Rey stepped back, unsure what to think. "Did you want to show me something?"

"I—" It sounded like his mouth went dry. Rey took in Hux's wide, green eyes, and noticed his pale hands clenched into fists, before she reached her own hand down to try and soothe him. They didn't have to do this if he didn't want to. Or feel ready to? "I do," he finally answered, his hand clammy as his fingers wrapped around hers. He still hadn't looked over at her.

"All right." She kept her voice light, optimistic as he led her inside the store. He held his head low, probably to hide some sort of flush that grazed his face. She, however, found it cute when he blushed; it happened so rarely that she kind of savored it. No one seemed to notice them… so why try to be so secretive?

Hux stopped her right before the sheet music section. Even still, he hadn't looked over at her, only squeezed her hand tighter. "Pick three. I'd prefer different genres, if you don't mind."

"Okay. Weirdo," she uttered affectionately, only letting go of Hux's hand to peruse. Did he secretly play the guitar or something? A voice she rarely heard? He did sing, on occasion, and he sounded wonderful, but he'd never kept it a secret. The sheet music to La La Land. Disney Hits, Vol. 2. And perhaps something classical… Mozart always seemed like a good option, right? She held them up to Hux, peeking right behind the tops of the books. "And…?"

"Come on." Hux took her hand again, leading her again, past the guitars and other string instruments. All right, so no secret guitar talent. And past percussion, which she figured he wouldn't go for anyway.

All around them, people played with and screwed with the instruments, either as potential customers or just there to waste a bit of time. Everyone, from the kid banging on the conga drums to the old man checking prices on different bass strings, looked happy to be there.

Everyone except Hux, who led them past the elaborate keyboards and toward the baby grand pianos toward the back of the store, where hardly anyone seemed to breach, given their higher prices. Rey noted how quickly they walked, like he wanted to get this over with as soon as possible, whatever it was.

Finally he sat her down at the bench of a baby grand piano, wondering what made this one better than all the other ones. "Hux…?" He still hadn't answered any of the millions of questions racing through her head—she was just blindly going along with this, even though it was… odd, to say the least.

"Place anything in front of me. Make it a surprise."

And usually she liked the commanding tone he took on, but it seemed a bit off. Rey flipped through the Disney book, out of pure curiosity, and landed on something that seemed the most complicated. And she knew Hux hadn't seen most animated Disney classics—it'd taken up until they started living together before he'd even seen her favorite, Cinderella. Of course, what she put in front of him was from 101 Dalmatians.

Hux took a deep breath, looking over the notes once before his long fingers grazed the keys.

And Rey's jaw dropped the moment he started playing. She was sure he hadn't watched the movie, or even heard the song. Yet he played it so perfectly, at the right tempo, with the same, jazzy feeling she remembered from her childhood. She didn't know where to look: his gorgeous, long fingers playing beautifully, flying over the keys, or his concentrated eyes, hardly looking down at what he was playing, like the instrument was just an extension of himself. Where did this talent even come from?

She wanted to know everything. The song seemed to be over before she could remember to think, and he sighed, like it was a terrible labor, instead of this incredible talent he'd been hiding from her this whole time. Rey didn't realize she was still gaping until she tried to speak.

"You… you play?" was all she could squeak out, stupidly.

"Next piece," he goaded instead, gesturing for her to replace the piece. Nodding, Rey silently replaced the jazz piece with Mozart, just a random page, given she had completely forgotten which sonatas or waltzes were which. But this one Hux hardly looked at, like he'd had to memorize it in the past, but he still played with incredible feeling, with this incredible sadness. It was like every emotion he'd ever felt, he could only convey with this instrument. All the times he wouldn't open up, he kept it bottled in, this was him letting himself go, letting it all out.

Rey had never loved Hux more until this moment, having him trust her enough to let himself be so vulnerable around her.

When he finished, Rey was stuck in between wanting to kiss his brains out (in public, he probably wouldn't appreciate that, but the second they got home, that could be a different story), or just bringing out every single piece in the store to see if he could play them all. But he looked over at her expectantly, wanting the third piece. And she hadn't really said much yet. Neither had he.

"Mia and Sebastian's Theme," from La La Land. Rey knew Hux hadn't seen the movie, given she went with Finn when it came out, and Hux dismissed it as "Oscar-bation." Honestly, he wasn't wrong, but it didn't stop her from loving the music. But Hux still played it just as she'd heard it in the movie, when she listened to the soundtrack after. Maybe even better. She couldn't explain the melancholy feeling he seemed to put into all his playing was simply… heartbreaking. Breathtaking. He could even play the breakdown upon first glance. This was something prodigal. Yet why had she never even known about this?

Rey didn't realize she was close to tears until he finished—only because she was so moved. Who was this man? She wanted to get to know this side of her boyfriend. This wonderful side to him.

Hux finally looked over at her with this anxious look in his eyes, and Rey knew he'd just bared his soul to her… and she hadn't said anything, given she was so floored by such talent it took her mere breath away. She took a deep breath, then grinned up at him, reaching over to wrap her arms around him tight. "That was incredibly beautiful," she uttered against his neck. After a few moments, he placed his hands on her waist, squeezing gently, like he wasn't expecting the compliment.

"You did?" He sounded more relieved than anything. How was she ever going to hate something so wonderful? No, this talent needed to be shared!

"Of course." Rey pulled back, moving her hands up to cup his face. "You play so beautifully. I don't know why you'd hide something so great."

"I suppose it's a bit silly, keeping it in for so long," he confessed, sighing. There was more to this story, but Rey figure this probably wasn't the best time to ask. They were still in the middle of a store, after all. "I just wasn't sure how you'd take it."

"With an open heart," she assured, her grin dimming down to a warm smile. "I know it's cheesy, but you more than anyone need to hear that. You don't have to hide yourself with me."

"I haven't played in years, to be honest," he said, looking down a moment. Rey couldn't believe that, even apparently out of practice, he picked it back up like he had never left. How was he still so good? Why would he ever be embarrassed of something so wonderful? "I'm surprised… it's still all there."

"I thought you'd been secretly playing behind my back," she teased, nudging him with her shoulder. "I'm surprised it's stayed with you for so long without practice."

Hux shrugged. "I wanted to know if you liked it… that way, perhaps I'd get more into it again. To play for you, if you're okay with that."

"Yes," she replied immediately, her eyes wide. She'd never said yes to anything so quickly—even quicker than when he asked if she wanted to move in. "I would absolutely love that." His place certainly had enough room. She could see it placed by the window, overlooking the rest of the city. She imagined him playing in the middle of those long nights, getting whatever feelings he couldn't express out. She imagined coming home to him playing quietly.

She had to get him confident enough to play for others. This talent shouldn't just be for her, just for them. This was a gift, that needed to be shared.

"Alright." Hux took a deep breath, standing. He wiped his hands on his jeans, before holding his hand out for Rey to take. "Let's get a piano."

So this HC for Hux came from me watching Frank multiple times and loving that Domhnall's character plays piano (albeit not well). I know this is just an intro for now, but things are definitely going to get a lot more interesting as everything unfolds.

Also it's still pre-midnight as I'm posting this, so please take this as a Valentine's Day gift! Hope it's Reyux-filled and awesome.

As always, reviews and comments are greatly appreciated.