A/N: A big thanks to SirenBanshee. You are one amazing beta!
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"Ember, leave the room."
"Sir?" Ember semi-asked, semi-protested with a glance at Hux.
"Now!" Kylo snapped.
She slammed her fist against her chest, turned, and left without another word. Hux paled but lifted his chin in defiance.
"She is nothing but loyal to you, sir," he said.
"I have established that," Kylo sneered at him. "But how about you?" He went to stand in front of Hux, just a tad bit too close. Hux valiantly stared ahead, his gaze seemingly stopping right in front of Kylo's chest.
"I am not planning on betraying you, sir," he said. He swallowed heavily. "It is the truth. You can find it within my mind."
Kylo glared at him. "Do you think that by offering your mind to me, I would take pity on you and not enter it?"
"No, sir."
Without warning, Kylo plunged into Hux's mind, causing the man to let out an undignified shriek. Kylo paused as he half expected Ember to barge in and protect Hux, but nothing happened. Satisfied, he returned his attention to rummaging through Hux's thoughts and memories.
He found snippets of conversations between him and Ember. At the very beginning, they were short and coarse. It was obvious that Hux was fighting against being under constant scrutiny, but there was an undercurrent of fear present. What would happen if she told the Supreme Leader he was going against him? Would he be put in solitary confinement again? Would he be tortured again? So, no matter how brusque Ember was being, he had held back on his worst retorts.
Then, the conversations started changing with apparently both of them getting bored. Kylo listened to Ember telling Hux that things were changing. That the Kylo Ren that had tortured him was no more. There was disbelief, loads of it, and Kylo sniggered at it.
The changes that followed were so subtle, Kylo almost missed them. Hux surreptitiously watching Ember. Ember helping him knock some sense into a bunch of construction workers—literally—without being asked. The sharing of personal anecdotes. Hux asking Ember if she slept alright one morning and it, after some confusion from Ember, becoming a routine.
Kylo started feeling uneasy with how much of their relationship he was seeing. He had no qualms about invading Hux's privacy, but he disliked doing it to Ember. Her, he trusted. When he reached the memory of their first kiss, he disengaged brutally, causing another cry to erupt from Hux.
Kylo only blinked once before plunging right back in. This time, he forewent all the memories and started rifling through Hux's thoughts, looking for any indication of treachery. When he found none, he pulled out again. With some more care, this time. But even so, Hux crumpled to the ground once released, blood streaming from both his nose and his ears.
With a scowl, Kylo stepped away from him. He didn't understand. He hadn't found a shred of an indication that Hux was plotting against him. On the contrary, he had found a sense of pride in his role as the Base's leader.
Kylo went to lean against his desk while Hux shakily stood again. Hux pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and tried to stem the nosebleed. Although he was obviously in pain, he resumed staring in the distance, his posture straight. The only indication of his state of mind was the slight tremble in his hands.
"I have found nothing," Kylo admitted with displeasure.
"There is nothing to find, sir," Hux answered. His voice sounded nasal, the words almost beyond recognition, but Kylo understood him just fine.
Worrying his lips, he started pacing. He didn't know what to do. Eventually, he barked out for Ember to enter again. She stepped through the door and shot a worried glance at Hux. Kylo could see her fight the desire to tend to him, to make sure he was alright. The memory of a similar situation, where he had seen Rey in pain and had been unable to do anything about it, struck him like a knife to his chest.
"You can go to him," he sighed with a vague wave of his hand.
Ember once more planted her fist against her heart before rushing over to Hux. Kylo watched as she touched his face and asked him if he was okay. It was odd to see her so caring. Hux shook his head at something she asked and winced at the movement. He swayed a little and she grabbed his elbow to steady him. Hux gave her a small smile.
Eventually, Ember turned around.
"Please, sir," she said to Kylo.
Her voice didn't sound pleading, but he could see in her eyes that she meant her request. Kylo sighed heavily.
"You trust him?" he asked.
"Yes, sir."
"Then he's all yours," he ground out.
"Sir?"
He worried his lips. "I found nothing to prove the contrary," he allowed. "Which doesn't mean I will start liking him," he tagged on.
Hux made a noise that might have been a snort-turned-cough. Both Kylo and Ember glanced at him and he risked a small shrug.
"That being said," Kylo continued, "I will not go against your relationship. Rather the contrary, I will ask you to make it public, if you feel comfortable with that."
He looked at Ember. She nodded once, clearly understanding that he especially wanted the other Knights to know.
"However," he said, "Hux will fall under the watchful eye of the Dragon Guard from now on. Whatever Guard that's with Hux will know not to accept any orders from you, Ember of Ren, without explicit consent from either me or Phasma. Is that understood?"
"Sir," Ember exclaimed in acceptance.
Hux tried to do the same, but the word came out warbled and his bow was unsteady.
"Go get him checked out," Kylo commanded Ember. "And send Phasma in so I can update her."
"Sir," Ember said again before grabbing Hux's elbow and leading him outside.
The fact that he didn't protest the manhandling told Kylo exactly how bad he was feeling. They were barely outside when Phasma stepped in. Kylo sighed.
"She's been drawn in by Hux alright," Kylo grumbled at her.
"Sir, shall I arrest her?" Phasma prompted, sounding almost eager.
Kylo snorted. "No. They're in a relationship, Phasma," he said. "A romantic one."
"Excuse me? Sir?"
"I know. Unbelievable, isn't it?"
"Sir, I apologise for questioning, but are you sure?"
"I searched Hux's mind quite thoroughly. I'm sure."
"A romantic relationship?" Phasma questioned, the disbelief evident in her voice. "Then what about- Oh."
Kylo laughed. "I find it as incredulous as you do, but it seems to be true," he told her. "It does change a few things though."
He explained to her the conditions he'd put upon Hux and Ember.
"Uhm, sir?" Phasma hesitantly said in response.
"Yes?"
"I'm running out of people. And room to house them in."
"Ah." Kylo looked at her, chewing his lip. "How many of the Guard are still on the Supremacy?" he asked.
"Eight of them, sir."
"Have some standard Troopers guard the offices and my quarters on the Supremacy," he said. "The locks should be warded against any entry except for my code only," he continued. "As for the housing issue." He thought it through for a moment. "Get a housing ship in orbit and transport the workers to and fro every morning and evening. They'll have to make do. Get Derek in on this; there's no need to do this on your own."
"Yes, sir. Three of the Guard will have to remain to take up the role as coordinator. The communication's center here isn't equipped for it, nor does it offer sufficient privacy."
Kylo nodded. "I understand. When are you and Jessy leaving?"
"A confirmation from the Supremacy is pending, but given their okay, the day after tomorrow."
They hashed out a few more details before Phasma left. Kylo sat down in his office chair, leaning his head back.
"You were right," he said to Rey through their bond.
He knew Rey felt smug even before her answer reached him. "Of course I am," she said. "But what am I right about exactly?"
Kylo huffed a laugh. "Ember and Hux are indeed in a relationship," he elaborated, "no matter how unbelievable it seems."
Rey laughed. "And how did you find out?"
"I-" He suddenly realised she would probably not be pleased with what he'd done to Hux. "I asked," he finally said.
"You asked?" she echoed as she appeared in front of him. "What are you not telling me, Ben?"
Kylo dragged a hand through his hair. "I may have also searched Hux's mind."
"Did he consent to it?"
"Sort of?"
"Ben!" she admonished.
He ducked his head, realised what he was doing and straightened back up in confusion.
"I don't have to justify myself to you," he snapped.
Rey reeled back, frowning. "I'm not telling you to, Ben," she said.
"You're judging me."
"I'm thinking it won't endear you to him." She took a hesitant step forward. "Ben? I'm not telling you what to do. I'm sorry."
"No," he said, shaking his head and getting out of his chair to walk towards her. "No, don't apologise. I-" He gathered Rey in his arms. "I don't respond well to being scolded, it seems. Not… Not after everything. But you should be able to tell me what you think, even if it's opposite of my actions or opinions." He tightened his arms around her. "Don't apologise."
Much to his relief, Rey relaxed against him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
"It's okay, Ben. I understand."
He planted a kiss on the top of her head. "You are too good for me."
"No, I'm not."
"Yes, you are."
Rey giggled. "No, I'm not."
He pushed her away from him, his hands firm on her shoulders. "Yes, you are," he repeated, before planting his lips on hers so she couldn't protest anymore.
"You cheated," Rey laughed when they parted.
"When you're leading an organisation like the First Order, you learn a trick or two," he answered, smirking.
She smacked his stomach and stood on her tiptoes to give him another brief kiss. He pulled her back into his arms and they stood there for a while.
"I think Burman is ready," he eventually said.
"What do you mean?"
"I think he's ready to be reconnected with the Force. Well, as ready as anyone can be."
"That's great," Rey exclaimed, squeezing him a little harder. "When are you going to try it?"
"I don't know yet. Phasma is already unhappy with being sent away for a mission while she's still uncertain about Hux and Ember. I think she would rebel if I tried reconnecting Burman while she isn't here to protect me."
"But, there's nothing she can do," Rey said.
"No, but I'll be weak afterwards. You remember how you found me after I reconnected Ember."
"Yeah, I do."
Rey shivered at the memory and he planted another kiss in her hair.
"This time you'll know. I'll tell you when I'll do it and then you can warn the kids as well, okay?"
"Okay."
They talked a bit more before Rey left and Kylo resumed his day.
The following week and a half passed without incident. The last of the Guard arrived at the Base and the construction workers were relocated to a ship in orbit. It eased some of the pressure on the Guard and allowed them more training sessions, both within their own group and with the Knights.
Phasma left with Jessy and a selection of Troopers from the Supremacy for their mission. They returned with the news that it had been successfully unsuccessful. Kylo contemplated throwing a fake temper tantrum but then decided against it. Phasma agreed with him that not reacting would sow just enough confusion among the people at the Base. The people who were, incidentally, also the ones he trusted most and would have by his side when he started making drastic changes.
While Phasma had been away, however, Kylo found himself with two Guards as his constant shadows and he rolled his eyes when he noticed Ember, as well as Hux, were being followed by one. Commendable, Ember didn't protest about it other than a 'She really doesn't trust me, does she?'. He'd snorted at that and told her it had been Phasma who had discovered her and Hux, to which Ember had let out an understanding sigh.
It was the day after Phasma's return when Kylo ended the meditation session with an announcement.
"Tomorrow," he said, addressing the six Knights in front of him, "there will be no meditation session. You will practice on your own." He turned slightly to regard Burman. "Instead, Burman of Ren, if you feel up to it, I would like to attempt to reconnect you with the Force."
The silence that fell was tangible in the air. All of the Knights were staring at him. Ember, on the other hand, had glanced at him, then merely shrugged. Eventually, it was Shadow that broke the silence.
"Well, aren't you going to accept?" she exclaimed.
"Yes," Burman said, snapping out of his daze. "Yes. I accept, Supreme Leader."
"Congratulations!" Shadow said, before starting one of her inane chatter sessions.
Dot clapped him on the back and Quicksilver, Daze and Rogue added words of congratulations as well. Kylo allowed it for a bit before he cleared his throat. Attention immediately returned to him.
"This does come with a few rules," he said. "I have no idea how long it will take. The session will start after lunch and from that moment onwards, this room will be completely off-limits. Phasma will be stationed in front of the door and two Guards will keep other staff a safe distance away from this hall. No matter what you hear or notice, you will not enter. Am I understood?"
They all saluted with a unified 'Yes, sir'.
"Some of you might feel the changes that will happen in the Force if I'm successful. Last time, the ripple it created was quite volatile. Don't panic. Especially you, Ember of Ren, will feel the effects. No matter what it feels like, you will not enter this room."
She gave him a curt nod in understanding.
"That will be all."
They gave him another salute and filed out. Burman looked a bit dazed as Shadow continued talking to him. Dot was already rolling her eyes at her. Kylo watched as Quicksilver gazed longingly at the trio while they were led away by his Guard. Daze took hold of Quicksilver's hand and leaned in to say something.
In the end, only Phasma, Ember and Kylo were left as Kylo planned on training Ember further in the Force.
"I'm thinking of allowing them more freedom after tomorrow," Kylo said out loud to both of the women standing next to him.
"If you're talking about Quicksilver, Daze and Rogue, then I would comment that they haven't caused any trouble up until now," Phasma said.
"I still can't quite get the hang of Rogue, but Quicksilver and Daze are sincere in their repentance," Ember added.
"Good," Kylo said. "Phasma, I think it's best if you wait outside. I'd rather you not get hit by stray blaster bolts."
After a glance at Ember, she nodded and left.
"Let's get started on properly manipulating those blaster bolts, shall we?" Kylo said, grabbing a blaster and promptly firing it at Ember.
