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"It was not my fault."
Hux stood, defiantly, staring at the grotesque visage of Snoke. The hooded figure looked at him, unblinking.
"Not your fault?" The voice, supple and as venomous as a snake, slithered its way through the air. "How could the taking of Kylo Ren not be your fault?"
The General looked at his feet, realising he'd been beaten. "I didn't-"
"No. You didn't." Snoke's voice was sneering. "You didn't take the time to check and realise that they - they! - had taken him." Snoke leaned forward. "If they have killed him, then its on you, General."
"His mother took him," Hux said, his tone defiant, although his voice was diminished. "I doubt she would kill her own son."
"A son who killed his father?" Snoke almost chuckled. "You have a strange opinion."
"So-"
"So you need to go and find him. Bring him back."
"They'll kill me!"
"Maybe that's what you deserve."
Shaken, Hux swallowed, "So, I go-"
"You go now."
Rey sat opposite him. He was staring at the tray. "You should eat," she offered, then flushed when he looked at her.
"Are you trying to mother me? Really sure you're not trying to fatten me up?" His voice held no humour, but neither was full of aggression. He picked up the fork, and toyed with the food on the tray. "Because it won't work."
"I'm not trying to mother you," Rey said, simply. "I wouldn't even dare try and mother the man who held me captive, and tried to torture me."
"Tried." His voice was low. "You escaped." He stared at her. "You were just a scavenger - and then, you gave me this." The fork clattered to the floor as he lifted his hand and gently touched the scar that trailed down his face, slightly obscuring his cheek.
"Did that surprise you?" The forcefulness of her tone shook her, slightly. "That I - stood up to you?"
"No." He looked at her. "Remember - I can teach you."
"There is nothing you can teach me that I want to learn," she responded. "I came here as a favour to your mother. She's worried about you-"
"And so are you, Rey."
She blinked. "What?"
"You are worried about me." He was beginning to stand, unfolding his long limbs and showing his height advantage. "If you weren't, you wouldn't do as she asked. You wouldn't bring me food. You wouldn't stay and talk-"
"I hardly call this talking," Rey retorted. "Its more you accusing me of-"
"I accuse you of nothing." His voice dropped. "I-"
Suddenly, the door opened. Leia was suddenly in the room, looking directly at him. "Ben. Please, sit."
To Rey's surprise, he did as she asked. He looked at the floor. "Yes?"
"I asked Rey to talk to you." Leia's voice was steady. "I asked her to talk to you, as you have been in here now for over two weeks. We are not trying to imprison you. We want to-"
"Break me," his voice was a whisper. "Break me for what I did to him."
Leia frowned. "Ben. I have no intention of-"
"Really?" His voice was almost a hiss. "Are you hoping to brainwash me into being...good?"
Rey stood. She looked with contempt at the man who was almost growling at his mother. "You are just a creature in a mask," she said, quietly. "Except that mask is your own face."
Hux swallowed. He had to find Ren. Put him back in his rightful place. If he did...his mind started to wander.
Suddenly he smiled. Yes. Find Ren. Only this time, he'd have to subjugate to Hux. His life would be saved, at a price.
Hux began to move towards the shuttle. Vengeance would be sweet.
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