Hux stared at Ren's back as he left. As soon as he was out of the door he exhaled. It was his own fault, his lack of restraint that had led to his current predicament. If he'd been sensible he would've pulled up 'Captain Ken's' file after their first encounter.

He went to bed and sat down on its edge, picking his pad up. A quick search turned up empty - of course there was no Captain Ken on record. So Ren hadn't prepared for this… he scoffed. Sloppy.

Ren could have ordered a droid in the logistics centre to bring him a uniform and order some poor low-level officer to forge a file. But of course that would require him to actually think things through.

Instead it appeared that he had just leapt at an opportunity and winged it. Hux had to admit that he was low-key, very low-key, impressed at the gall of the man.

He threw the pad on the bed and wiped across his face. Damn it. He had shown Ren an opening and he had immediately taken it. What did that mean for the future? That Ren was more inclined to take risks to achieve his goals, that he should be careful around him - obviously normal parameters didn't apply.

He looked at the empty side of the bed where Ren had slept not so long ago. He put his hand on the pillow, for a moment he imagined that it was still warm.

Silly. He took the pad once again and started to work on Reports for Snoke.

-o-

Hux checked his appearance once more in the mirror before he headed out to the usual morning meetings. With his luck he would probably see Ren before lunch and he intended to show him that he wasn't fazed in the slightest.

As expected Ren showed up at the first meeting - right on time but only by seconds. Hux barely acknowledged his presence and conducted the meeting like always.

"That would be all, ladies and gentlemen," he said and with a curt nod and he brushed past Ren. Hux allowed himself a small smile. He was a professional through and through after all.

The rest of the day was rather dull, he oversaw drills from new troopers or rather he visited Captain Phasma as she trained them.

"General, might I have a word?" asked Phasma at the end of the training session.

"Of course."

They stepped aside in a quiet corner.

"Sir, a man that appeared to be Kylo Ren was discovered yesterday in hallway 1C-27. He was wearing plain gym clothes and attacked an officer."

Hux clasped his hands behind his back. "How is the officer?"

"She is fine, just a little shaken. He used the Force on her."

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention," said Hux. "I will speak to Ren." Kriff, that was the last thing he wanted, but there was no way around it.

Later in the day he was in his office and finished his correspondence with the other generals on the war council. As per standing order, Mitaka brought him the second Tarine tea of the day.

Hux watched the hot beverage and exhaled. "Lieutenant, tell Lord Ren that I want to see him in my office."

"Yes sir." Mitaka turned on his heel and left.

Hux leaned back in his chair and put his fingertips together. He could feel a headache coming up. Kriff. He really wasn't in the mood to confront Ren. But what he wanted didn't matter - he'd like to grasp the rancor by its teeth and get things done. Even if that meant to deal with Ren.

A quick thought of him clinging to Hux's waist crossed his mind. He shifted in his chair. Why was he still thinking about that?

He pushed the thought aside and started to sign off orders for the troops under his command. Soon he had lost himself in the work, he only raised his head when his door chimed. He got up and straightened his back, standing next to his desk with his hands clasped behind his back.

"Enter."

The door registered his command and slid open, revealing the black-clad figure of Kylo Ren. He wore his helmet. He marched inside and took a look around the room.

"I didn't know that you had an office."

Hux crooked an eyebrow. "You thought that I would just stand on the bridge and commute between meeting rooms?"

Ren went to the wall with the large painting of the First Order insignia. "No, of course not." He didn't offer further explanation for his comment. It annoyed Hux - was this another attempt of trying to appear mysterious?

He sighed and resisted the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose. "Let's get to the point: You attacked one of my officers-"

"She wanted to reprimand me."

"That's no reason to attack her. She was well within her rights to reprimand you for not adhering to the uniform regulations."

He jerked his head around. "I'm above regulations."

"Then why didn't you simply identify yourself instead of-"

"Because I'm not supposed to show myself without dignity!" hissed Kylo, the vocoder in his mask making it impossible to determine if he was angry or just annoyed.

Hux frowned. "Dignity?"

Ren closed the distance between them and said in a low voice. "Do you think my Master approves of me sneaking around in Gym wear?"

Hux stared at him in utter disbelief. Ren had just handed him a significant leverage - so Snoke didn't approve of him … mingling with others? He smirked. "I thought Snoke didn't care what you did as long as you followed his orders."

Ren tilted his head a little. "Well, I didn't ask him if it was alright to fuck you if that's what you're asking."

Hux could feel heat crawl up his cheeks. "I sure hope so." He cleared his throat. "So concerning that incident-"

"Are you talking about me sucking your dick or the officer I threw into the wall?"

Hux narrowed his eyes. "You know damn well what I'm talking about: the attack on the officer! Just- don't!"

"Is this an order?" There was a strangely playful undertone in Ren's voice.

The audacity to mock him at a time like this! Hux closed his eyes for a moment and tried to remain calm. "Lord Ren, you know as well as I that I can't order you to do anything. It's a request," he pressed out.

"And what will you do if I don't follow your request?" Ren came even closer, his mask was but centimetres away from Hux's face.

Was that a threat? First he threw him off-balance with his vulgar remarks and now he challenged his authority? Hux steadied himself. "You shouldn't underestimate me, Ren." He felt the weight of the hidden blade in his jacket's sleeve, a reminder of his last resort. "I didn't get to where I am now by cowering to brutes who happen to have power."