Hux knew he shouldn't visit Ren so often - there was no real reason to visit his co-commander in the medbay. But he caught himself making up excuses to go to him; one time it was some report he wanted to show him, another time it was an update on their search for the scavenger and Skywalker.
He held the parcel in his right hand as he entered on the third day. Truth to be told he missed Ren's nightly visits, he caught himself laying in his bed and imagining Ren behind him, breathing in his neck, giving him one of his soft kisses.
Ren's head perked up and he smiled when he saw Hux, he involuntarily smiled back. Then he rearranged his face into a neutral expression and threw the parcel carelessly on the bed.
"What is it?" asked Ren with his eyes wide. He started to unwrap it, ripping the brown flimsi away.
"It's just something that was laying around in my office. I guess it was a gift from some planetary official visiting. I thought you might want it since you're indisposed at the moment," he lied. He had ordered it two days ago, after he had visited Ren the first time.
Seeing him with his broken bones and the burns on his arms made him feel unwell. He wanted to touch him, tell him that- he didn't know what to tell him. But something that would make the sad look in his eyes go away.
Ren crumbled the flimsi in his hand and threw it carelessly away, lifting the book up that had been in the parcel. It was an old leather-bound flimsi book, which had been rather expensive - not that it mattered.
"'The Best Fairy Tales in the Galaxy'," read Ren. He beamed at Hux, the smile pierced Hux's heart. Damn him and his openness, didn't he know that he wasn't supposed to look like that?
Hux made an attempt to smirk, it felt off. "Thought you could use it."
"Thank you, I didn't know that there were still actual books around." Ren opened the book and read the table of contents.
"It's nothing special - I receive books from time to time." Hux said quickly and gulped. It felt nice, seeing Ren like this. He couldn't remember that he had ever given anyone a present - only bribes.
"I hope I can get out of here tomorrow," said Ren and put the book down. "It's driving me crazy that I can't train."
"Good to hear, tomorrow is the monthly budget meeting. I'm sure you're looking forward to it," said Hux with a thin smile. Hopefully he would visit him again tomorrow.
"Ugh, why must you torture me so?"
Hux gave him a smirk. "That part comes later."
Ren's smile faded away and his eyes darkened with lust. He licked his lips and grinned wolfishly. "For that I would even sit through three budget meetings."
Hux's heartbeat accelerated. "Well, see you tomorrow, Lord Ren."
"General."
-o-
Hux was impatient the next day, he caught himself checking his chronometer far more often than usual. Even the meetings he found interesting seemed to drag on and he ordered the bogweed noodles Ren seemed to like best as 'leftovers'.
He got a new towel for Ren from his cupboard and put it in the refresher, then he sat down at his desk and tried to focus on his usual work. It barely worked. When it was finally 23:00 he went in the refresher and checked his appearance in the mirror.
He went back to his desk, sat down only to get up again to get a mug of tea. He checked the chronometer again. 23:09.
A few reports later it was 23:33. He got restless and went to the holotable in the middle of the room to go through the newest plans for Starkiller. 23:41.
There were five new messages at 23:53. Seven new messages at 00:04. He stared at the door. Ren should be here any moment.
The minutes tickled by, Hux started to feel antsy. What was keeping him? Had Snoke called him for an audience? When the chronometer showed 00:22, he tried to call him. He didn't answer.
An uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. He grabbed his coat and left his quarters. He had checked - they had released him this afternoon from med bay. Perhaps he wasn't feeling well?
-o-
Minutes later he was approaching Ren's quarters when the doors suddenly slid open and Ren skidded in the hallway - he was only wearing his pants. He looked frantically around as if he was looking for someone.
"Ren?" asked Hux, slowing his step.
Ren blinked and only now he seemed to see Hux. "Uh, evening Hux."
"Are you alright?"
Ren's eyes darted to Hux and back into the empty hallway. "Let's go inside."
They entered and Ren started to pace back and forth. "I saw her just now." He seemed excited.
Hux gaped at him. "What? Who?"
"The scavenger - Rey. We- we have this connection through the Force and just now I could see her just as clearly as I'm seeing you."
Hux could feel his stomach drop. "Rey?"
Ren nodded. "Snoke told me that she could be my- that she would come to me. But he didn't tell me that there would be this mental connection. Or perhaps he didn't know." He chewed on his lips. "Our bond is getting stronger the more I meditate on it, at first I could barely hear or see her and now we can have entire conversations."
"H-how is that possible?" stammered Hux, his head was spinning. Ren had spoken to her? Why did they have a connection? And why hadn't he told him? He had been talking to her instead of coming to him? It- it made sense of course. Ren had gotten tired of him, just like he had predicted. And despite knowing it, despite seeing it coming it hurt so much that it made him sick in the stomach.
Ren seemed euphoric. "I'm not sure, but Snoke said that she would do for me what Padmé Amidala had done for Vader."
Hux knew he shouldn't ask, but he couldn't help himself. "What's that exactly?" His heart was hammering in his chest, he could already feel his throat lacing up. He already knew the answer.
"Uh," Ren suddenly seemed bashful. "He said that she would ignite my passion, making my connection to the Dark Side stronger. He- he even said she would join me, abandon the Light."
Hux blinked. He was indeed pathetic, weak. The least he could do was retreat while he had some dignity left. "Ah, I see." Was it only his imagination or was his voice throaty?
Ren started to pick his fingers. "I wanted to tell you, but it never seemed to be the right time. I- I guess I wasn't sure-"
"You don't owe me an explanation," said Hux in a toneless voice. He couldn't stand to hear the words, the explanation. The fact that Ren was nice about it made it worse. He had known it from the start that it would end, but why did it still hurt so much? It wasn't supposed to hurt so much that this- this stupid oaf-
"What are you doing here- oh," Ren checked his chronometer. "I'm sorry. I didn't realise that it was already so late."
Hux straightened his back. "No problem, I have a lot of work to do. I don't have time for this nonsense anyway."
Ren frowned then his eyes went wide. Something like realisation flashed over his face. "Look, I'm sorry that I dumped this on you like I did. I was just surprised to actually see her here. I- I like you… a lot." He grabbed Hux's hand and kissed it, then he put it against his cheek. "I'm a moron, okay? I don't think before I talk."
Hux wanted to pull his hand back, tell him that he didn't care about him but the words refused to leave his lips and his hand refused to obey. A traitorous small voice in his head whispered 'what if he really means it? What if he really likes you?'
"Let's go to your place," said Ren.
Hux gulped. He never could say no to him. Pathetic.
