This took me a bit to figure out how I wanted them to meet and I nearly switched the POV.
Also. WTF Ben? WTF are you doing? What side are you? STOP PLS.
I'm going to have to write a whole 'nother set of these for this as a 'not evil Ben' version? Because he keeps using whatever position he gets in that AU to do the exact same thing. I start them with the intention that he has a set of morals more fitting with his new position yet halfway through he keeps deciding that nah, he'd much rather try to take over the galaxy!
Warnings: canon typical violence.
Jedi Ben Skywalker
There are precious few Jedi in the universe, Snoke says. Hux finds the statement hard to believe. There are more Jedi in the universe currently then there had ever been in his life. But Snoke is much older; he remembers the days long pasted where the universe had a much higher number of Jedi. He forbids any order designed to cut their numbers down by a noticeable amount.
It is easier to corrupt somebody already trained than to train somebody completely. That is Snoke's reasoning when Hux asks why they can't find the Force sensitive children themselves and train them (it's not as if the First Order has never forcefully taken children away from their families to train before). "They need a leader," he replies when Hux asks why the Knights of Ren are not good enough. None of them are strong enough to be worthy of lording over the others.
It puts Hux into a dilemma when a group of Jedi show up on his base just days before the final stages of its construction are finished.
"Capture them," the Supreme Leader advises when he goes to ask him to be allowed to just remove the threat (what is five Jedi really?). "Capture them and bring them to me."
It isn't an easy task. It is one that costs him too many Storm Trooper casualties (most of his losses at the hands of the tallest of the group who apparently has no problem just cutting his enemies down compared to the others who try to merely disarm and incapacitate the threats as best they can) but he does manage to complete it. Having the five Jedi now in a holding cell instead of running around on his base. It is still not a comfort to have them there at all. He will be glad to see them shipped off to the Supreme Leader.
"You are to come with them," the Supreme Leader says when Hux goes to tell him that the group of Jedi are ready to be sent to him the second he orders it. Hux does argue that. He is needed on the base now more than ever. Is needed so they can complete their objective the very second the weapon is ready. Especially now it is clear the Jedi know about it.
"It will do you some good to see the power of the Force," Snoke says and there is no more arguing. Hux orders his officers to wait for his return should the weapon be ready. They are not to fire unless he is there. He will not miss out on the sight of his victory.
Hux feels uncomfortable in the ship. There is only one of the Jedi in it (the one who had killed the majority of the Storm Troopers sent to capture them) and his hands are bound in specialised cuffs that are designed to make him unable to access the Force, effectively stopping him from escaping or potentially contacting anyone through it. He is also outnumbered and there are two Storm Troopers with blasters pointed at his head that will stay like that for the entirety of the trip. There is no actual threat to Hux and yet he feels as if the only reason they are not all dead is because the Jedi doesn't want them to be.
"You don't want to be here anymore then I do," the Jedi says as if in idle conversation and damn him! Damn him for knowing. Damn those dark eyes and smirked lips (that are really rather nice looking and Hux wants to know what they look like when they're swollen from a bite or five).
"I do as the Supreme Leader tells me," Hux replies harshly and hopes the prisoner will just shut up. He doesn't have time to deal with Force bullshit and just wants to get this over with so he can return to the base before the weapon is completed so he can fire it as soon as it is possible.
The Jedi laughs (a deep, rich laugh, and damn him for that as well). "The Supreme Leader is a joke."
"The Supreme Leader is a great and ancient being," Hux replies, despite the fact he kind of agrees with the assessment.
"A great and ancient being who has only just now decided to stick his hand into the pot of who rules the galaxy. Where was he while the Republic was ruling? Or the Empire? The one he has made you mimic so much. Does he really believe he is smarter than the Emperor? That he can succeed where he failed?"
"We have learnt from past mistakes." It was the reason they no longer used clones. But damn that Jedi for making him argue back. Damn him for making Hux defend the Supreme Leader.
"Just like the republic learnt from theirs? Admit it you're both just trying to repeat the past."
"And what of the Jedi? Are you not doing the exact same thing," he indicates to the robes the man is currently wearing. The ones that are covering his strong frame that Hux knows to be deadly (has seen to be deadly), trying to make it seem like it belongs to a peacekeeper instead of a warrior. That are trying to hide the muscle that Hux knows has to be there. And damn him for that as well.
"Maybe," the Jedi says with a shrug and a silence falls over them. One that Hux is happy enough to let sit. "Tell me. Why did you join Snoke's side? You are smart enough that you could have gained any position you wanted in the galaxy."
"Flattery won't get you anywhere Jedi," Hux replies despite the flutter inside his stomach at the words, "and I'm on his side because it's the only side that can return the galaxy to its true glory."
"Bull," the Jedi replies and stretches his back (Hux finds himself wishing he wore different clothes so he could see how his muscles shifted at that movement and damn him for that as well), "men like you don't care about what is the right side. You only care about power."
"Then it is the side that will give me the most power."
"Do you really believe that?" the Jedi asks, leaning forward despite his arms still cuffed behind his back. "What will you do when you have the galaxy under the First Order's thumb? It won't be yours but Snoke's." It is something that Hux had contemplated himself. Contemplated what he will do when there is no higher position than that held by the Supreme Leader.
"It is better than having to share with a being from every civilised planet in the galaxy." It was the conclusion he had come up with as answer to his own questionings.
The Jedi shakes his head, "you're too pretty to be his bitch."
"And I suppose being the republics bitch is fine for me in your eyes?"
"No."
"Then whose bitch should I be? Because I see no other option."
"Mine."
Hux crosses the distance between them in two steps. The slap echoes though the room.
The Jedi grins as he presses his tongue into the cheek Hux's hand struck.
The two Stormtroopers seem to flinch when Hux reaches forward to grab the Jedi's hair before leaning close. "Do you really understand the position you are in? Do you really think you should be making suggestions like with where you are going?"
"I likely understand better then you do. Snoke is a joke; he will never be able to take the galaxy."
"And you will?"
"I'm the son of General Leia Organa, the prized nephew of Luke Skywalker, the grandchild of Padme Amidala and Anakin Skywalker. I could do anything I set my mind to.
"And what have you set your mind to," Hux tries to hide the curiosity from his voice but the way the Jedi (and this is Ben Skywalker, Hux knows about him from reports but would have never imagined this man to be the heir to the Skywalker legacy) smirks he has apparently failed.
"The head of the new Jedi Order."
Hux actually laughs at that. "And yet we're the ones living in the past."
"Everyone may think that and I will regain the power it previously had but it will be nothing like what it was. There will be a very different code when I'm in charge."
"What does Luke Skywalker think about these grand goals of yours?" From what Hux had heard Skywalker was happy with keeping the Jedi as a small group of people dedicated to teaching those who were Force sensitive how to use their powers and then sending them off to do whatever they wanted with their lives. He had no want to engage in political games and was happy to leave it in his sister's hands.
"He doesn't know. And I don't plan on him ever knowing."
"You are going to wait for him to die before you implement your plan? That may be a long way away." Hux doesn't know if it is sentiment or fear that kept the Jedi from turning against his uncle. Either way it is not something that motivated him to join his side.
"A Jedi is patient," Ben replies with a smile like it's an inside joke he expects Hux to get.
"And where would I fit into these plans of yours?" Hux knows he will have to arrange the quick removal of the two Stormtroopers in the room with them lest they say something to someone who will draw the wrong conclusion on the matter. He hasn't worked as hard as he did to get the position he is in to be executed for treason because of some upstart Jedi.
"You are a very clever man, even if you have not been particularly gifted with the Force. I am sure there are many uses I could find for you. And at the very least I know one for certain."
"And what's that?" Hux asks despite already having a feeling he knows what it is, especially with the tone of voice the Jedi used.
"A good fuck." This time Hux punches him square in the face. Screw Snoke and his want for the prisoners to be unharmed as possible. The Jedi doesn't even look at all bothered as a trickle of blood slowly starts to fall from like likely broken nose.
"I would never betray the First Order. Especially not for somebody like you." Hux turns at that and moves towards the cockpit of the ship to find out exactly how much longer he is stuck on the ship with the infuriating Jedi.
"You really should think about it General! How much greater you could be if you stepped out of Snoke's shadow!" Hux tries to ignore the Jedi's yelled words as the door to the cockpit slides shut behind him.
Later, after the group of Jedi manages to escape from right under the Supreme Leader's nose Hux is given a note that is found in the temporary cell that had held Ben Skywalker.
'I look forward to hearing your decision,' it reads with the co-ordinates to a planet and the name of some bar underneath.
