"You're crying again." Ben's voice finds him later as he lies in the dark on a strange bed in a strange room. From where he lies, curled up in a small ball he can smell the incense Snoke uses to meditate drifting in from the adjoining room.
"Leave me alone. The dryness of the planet is affecting my eyes." Hux scowls rubbing at them tiredly. Hux is supposed to be sleeping, as he supposes is Ben. He wants to go home. To forget about all of this. To be the favourite again.
"Right. And my grandpa is Darth Vader. Why are you really upset?""
"Because of you. You've ruined everything." Hux huffs wishing he could hate the younger boy. Wishing Ben was actually by his side.
"You were punished too?" Ben asks sounding concerned. Hux brushes a hand over a blooming bruise on his shoulder. Ben's worry is as touching as it is strange. He feels a strange glow burning from within in his chest, and realises it is Ben comforting him.
"I didn't get dessert. My mother is afraid I've caused a diplomatic incident. The First Order won't blow up the planet will they? Or force us into marriage?"
"Not while Snoke is on this planet. What is marriage?" Hux asks, unfamiliar with the word. It is different, talking to Ben nonverbally in Standard but not much more difficult than speaking Standard normally. He has a lot of practise speaking Standard with his father.
"It's…" Ben falters thinking. "Being together. For better or worse, till death." He says sending Hux a recollection, a woman in white standing beside a scruffy looking man, the two of them arguing silently as they hold hands. Ben's parents Hux supposes, though their ears seem small. The image flickers as if he is watching a recording of an old holovid, rather than recollecting a real memory of Ben's.
Hux supposes his words are meant to be a threat, two people forced together, fighting to the death. And yet despite Ben's dread, marriage doesn't sound so terrible to Hux. He would be gentle and kill Ben softly in his sleep. He'd weave flowers in his hair and brush stardust over the lids of his eyes. Except no, he can't kill Ben. They're stuck together for life.
"Until the rain ends." Hux hums remembering the oath sworn on his homeworld. "My father promised to stay with Snoke until the rain stopped. But it is always raining somewhere on Arkanis."
"So Snoke tricked your father?"
Hux twists his hair between his fingers and thinks of his proud, stubborn father. His parents' relationship is complicated to say the least, often they can go days, weeks even apart. And yet. His father has done nothing but follow orders all his life. He thinks of their contrast, Snoke in his long dark robes and tall stature, his father pink skinned and neat in his uniform, sitting beside Snoke's throne a thick golden choker around his neck. "My father allowed himself to be tamed." He says at last. "Besides where else would he go? We are hated everywhere."
"I don't hate you Hux."
"You should. I think I may have trapped you with my kiss." Hux says recalling his earlier conversation with Snoke. Ben soft and sweet as he is, is no match for Snoke and his powers. Hux digs his fingers into the skin of his palms. Despite it all Hux wants to protect him.
"I kissed you back." Ben reminds him. Stupidly reclaiming some of the blame.
"We are both fools then." Hux says wanting to see Ben again more than anything.
"Why? What is claiming Hux?" Ben asks again, a little too late.
"It is your mind and mine. Our bodies, our hearts. Even our souls connected. Your life is bound to mine. As mine is bound to yours. No matter how far the distance we will never be apart." Hux explains biting at his bottom lip. "Even death will unite us."
Ben is silent, contemplating. Hux wonders if it is too much for the younger boy to understand.
"So you're saying I've basically married a prince of the First Order. My mother will kill me." Ben groans his tone strange, possibly fond, or teasing. It is difficult to read human emotion at times.
"I recommend you do not tell her then. For our continued survival."
"I wasn't being serious." Ben chides snorting lightly. From where he lies Hux can feel the beating of Ben's heart.
"Why- Why did you claim me?" Ben asks hesitantly. The question surprises Hux, even though it shouldn't really.
"I wanted you." It is the truth, no more no less.
Through their link he feels Ben blush in the dark. Or perhaps it is just wishful thinking. "We only just met." Ben stutters.
"It felt right at the time." Hux argues adding. "It can't be undone." He does not say I don't know how. I was not taught. He does not let Ben know Ben is the reason he is alive. But Ben might hear those thoughts anyway through their link. Ben is talented in ways he is not.
"It's not so bad." Ben assures him. "You are pretty and I like the colour of your hair."
Hux covers his colouring cheeks with his hands, despite there being no one to see him blush in the dark. "I am more than just my looks you know."
"Oh?" Ben asks curious.
"I am a trained in both unarmed combat and fifteen types of weaponry, although a Blaster Pistol is my weapon of choice." He feels Ben cringe and remembers belatedly Ben is a jedi. Peaceful, kind. "I like to play Dejarik and I practise on my Bouzouki every day. I've even composed a few songs."
"I would like to hear you play." Ben says sounding sleepy, reminding Hux that it is late. Too late than is good for children such as themselves.
"Tomorrow." Hux promises. Although he has no idea when he will see Ben again. If at all. Senator Organa had seemed keen on keeping them apart after discovering them together.
"Tomorrow." Ben agrees sending Hux something strange and warm through their link.
