Part IX
Long awaited it was, or so it felt due to slow progress, but finally the end of the first day came and with it the meeting adjourned. They weren't quite ready to sign yet, but for the first day, there was enough progress to inspire hopefulness among the Resistance and glares from the council — the latter wisely keeping their opinions to themselves.
Hux followed Ren out of the tent, the latter immediately turning to the left towards the First Order camp. The tent where they met was situated between the two encampments, with a short walk to either. Of course, the First Order had sent those of lower rank down first so that everything was set up prior to the arrival of the council. Thankfully, there had been no incidents — planted explosive devices triggered or other attacks of any kind — though the Resistance had arrived before them.
From the aerial view Hux got during their approach to the planet's surface, the First Order's camp was setup in perfect rows, with Ren's spacious tent in the center and the council's individual tents surrounding it. On the outer rim were the Stormtroopers' barracks and also their watch posts.
In contrast to this perfect order, the Resistance's encampment seemed haphazard, though they had also established a perimeter like the First Order had. There were no neat rows in sight, and the appearance of the tents were far from pristine — in fact, the waterproof guarantee probably dated back to when the late Emperor Palpatine had decided to get himself a yacht.
When Hux caught sight of Rose in his peripheral vision, he began to walk slower so that the rest of the council passed him. Perhaps it was unwise to reveal to those of the First Order that he had an acquaintance among the Resistance, but he could not suppress the desire to converse with her in person. Thus, when he was sufficiently behind, he adjusted his course and walked over to her.
"Are you waiting for anyone in particular?" he asked when he got close, a slight flirtatious tone shimmering through his usually cold exterior.
Rose gave him a slightly amused look before shaking her head. "Not for you, if that's what you're asking. I was waiting to hear how the meeting went. I take it things went okay, considering we're not in the middle of a battle."
Stopping a short distance from her, he placed his hands behind his back. "I should probably feel the anguish of crushed hope that you were not waiting for me, but truthfully, it was an exhausting day. I'm just glad to see you, Rose." He nodded towards the tent. "Why weren't you in there?"
She grimaced. "We knew this would be hard. I think we should see the fact that we're not running for cover with blaster bolts flying as a positive sign."
"The day is not over yet," he replied drily.
They shared a hint of a smile before she responded, "If we succeed in negotiating an agreement, I'll be involved with familiarizing ourselves with your technological advancements, while also incorporating ours as needed. So I thought I would wait and see first."
"You have so little faith in me?" He smirked. "I might need to smooth the rough spots here and there, but trust me when I say Ren will get us to our goal. He is … highly motivated."
Rose glanced to the side. "Is that why some of our members are telling others about, what appears to be, a Force choke?"
Hux moved to her side and looked in the same direction as she. Unfortunately, the Resistance members were, in fact, sharing the incident with others who had been waiting for news. "It was an eventful day," he replied, suppressing the urge to tug on his collar. "Don't worry, though. Rey made him agree not to use any of his … motivational skills against you."
"Mota—" She broke off, staring at him. "Are you telling me that's what you meant on the profile?"
This time, it was his turn to grimace. He reminded himself not to underestimate Rose — she was intelligent and loyal, both intriguing characteristics. "Let's just say that I've only recently begun to see who he could be with Rey by his side. After the events on the Supremacy … well, he didn't handle her refusal well, and I'm far removed from complaining about the fact that the lovesick fool isn't holding it against her."
Rose frowned. "I don't even know where to begin … his violent tendencies or the fact that you consider him a 'lovesick fool.'"
Hux turned to her quickly, refusing to allow another misunderstanding between them. "I merely meant for someone who occasionally had the patience level of below zero, he is handling this remarkably well. He is clearly enamored, and she is a good influence on him."
Rose nodded toward the Resistance, where some were still gesturing about the Force choke. "This is handling it well?"
"Believe it or not, yes." Hux shifted uncomfortably. "Quinn should've known better than to insult Rey."
She appeared intrigued at this added detail. "He stood up for her? Not that I'm condoning his behavior, and I'm not saying she couldn't defend herself. I just find it interesting that he would be so open about his feelings for her."
"I don't think he planned on it," Hux replied, noticing as a few of the Resistance looked their way. "But it gave us some leeway with the Resistance. He affirmed that she'll be empress in front of everyone. It made it more tangible that we are truly coming together without either side surrendering."
"Sounds like I missed quite a meeting," she commented. Then, she looked intently at him. "You look tired. If you're going to be ready for the meeting tomorrow morning, you should get some rest."
He wanted to spend more time with her, but he also knew he needed to be alert the following day. Nodding tiredly, he rubbed along his jaw. "You're right. I'll see you later, Rose."
He began to walk away, but then she called him back over the noise of the wind and crashing waves. "Armitage?"
Hux paused and looked back at her, a strange warmth filling his chest when he heard her say his name. "Yes, Rose?"
She smiled at him. "It's good to see you, too."
~SW~
Later that night, with lanterns and torches illuminating both camps — making it harder to sneak up on either should the desire be there — Hux stood at the edge of the First Order camp, watching the other camp across the significant distance that separated them.
The general who was second in command of the First Order couldn't look away from the sight, feeling as though it would disappear as part of a dream if he did. After all the work, after every carefully spoken word, the two sides were actually on the same planet. Yes, there was still distance between them, but they were close and no one was firing a shot. What seemed impossible was happening.
Hux felt a shift in the atmosphere, and he felt more than saw that Ren was close. One tended to develop a sense for these things under trying circumstances. When he glanced to the right, he saw the Supreme Leader coming up the trail that went down to the beach. Two of his knights stood on the cliff's edge, keeping their distance but making sure their master was safe.
For a moment, Hux felt torn between leaving before Ren acknowledged him and staying where he was. His decision was made for him, however, when Ren's course adjusted and he headed straight for him. His cape moved in the strong wind, with the sound of the huge waves crashing and clashing behind him filling the night. He didn't seem in a particularly bad mood, but Hux remained cautious until he knew for sure.
"Having trouble sleeping?" he asked when Ren drew near, politely testing the man's mood.
Stopping next to him, Ren glanced at Hux before looking across the field between the two encampments. "I haven't attempted to yet."
Ever? Hux almost asked sarcastically, but he managed to swallow the question. And he knew better than to ask Ren what he had been doing down on a strip of sand constantly under the threat of being swallowed by monstrous waves. However, if he had to guess, he wouldn't have said that Ren had been meditating. Even though the other path was closer to the Resistance's side, and just within the boundary of a torch's light, Hux was pretty sure the figure he saw was the scavenger returning to her camp.
"Good talk?" He gave Ren a sideways glance, failing to suppress a knowing smile.
Ren didn't respond immediately. Finally, he said, "Good enough."
Hux turned to Ren, his mood falling like a shot down TIE fighter at the sight of Ren's frown. If the man proposed again, and she turned him down again … I won't be responsible for my actions.
"Are we still set for the second meeting tomorrow?" he asked warily, bracing himself against hearing devastating news.
"Yes," Ren replied curtly.
I'll take it, Hux decided. One worded positive answers were better than tents shredded by a lightsaber.
"Then I should get my rest." Hux nodded in deference as he began to turn away. "Supreme Leader."
He left the man there and returned to his tent, but by the time he got there, he wondered how he was supposed to sleep when he knew something wasn't right. It could be something that tumbled and escalated as it did. In his comfortable sleeping quarters, he paced on the luxurious, deep red carpet and pondered what could have happened.
Rey's message to Ren kept returning to the surface of his mind: Since you're now willing to hold on, I can as well.
He was still contemplating whether or not her words were connected to the — hopefully — slight complication when a voice called out. "General Hux? There's someone here to see you."
"Who would bother me at this late hour?" Frowning, he stalked to the entrance, promising himself that there would be retribution if it was Pryde.
"I don't plan on staying long. I just wanted to give you something," a feminine voice called out, one that caused him to rush to the thick drape covering the entrance.
"Rose," he said quietly, stepping outside. Then, he turned to the Stormtrooper. "You're dismissed. I'll escort Miss Tico out."
When the Stormtrooper had left, he looked at her and swallowed. "Do you … want to come inside?"
She glanced past him before shaking her head. "I better not. Poe is waiting for me just outside the camp. I just came to give you …" She reached for her belt near her hip, removing a tiny parcel from the inner band. Handing it to him, she said, "This. I came to give this."
Hux examined the tiny package briefly before closing his hand around it. "I know Pryde and Quinn were difficult today, but I hardly think removing them from the picture right now is the answer."
"What?!" She gaped at him, and then she whispered urgently, "Should I be worried about how quickly you reached that conclusion? It's not poison. It's tea. For you. I thought the special blend would help you get some rest before tomorrow."
She sounded a little embarrassed as she added, "It's an old family recipe."
"Oh." Hux was flabbergasted. In the world he grew up in, suspicion was a necessity as it was a matter of survival. In his life, nice gestures were unheard of. Thus, he stumbled awkwardly over his words when he finally managed to string words together. "That is … very considered of you. Thank you, Rose."
Her head tilted slightly to her right as she stared thoughtfully at him. "You seem … unfamiliar with the concept. Haven't friends ever done something for you?"
He wanted to tell her, Friends? What friends? But he didn't. Hux supposed Phasma had been a friend, though that had been more a mutually beneficial alliance. However, before the memory of his father's opinion about friends got too close to the surface, he pushed it down and allowed himself to focus only on the woman in front of him.
"Is that what we are, Rose?" He searched her gaze in the light of the torches standing sentry by his tent's entrance. "Are we … friends?"
The silent "more than" hovered between them.
"I'm not sure how to respond," Rose finally replied, taking a small step toward him. "If these talks fail, the chasm between us will remain. Yet you've shown you're not my enemy. You risked your own life to set up that call, and even General Organa remarked earlier that she was grateful for your intervention today."
"Is that all I have? Your gratitude?" he asked softly.
Rose hesitated, but then she reached out and placed her hand over his heart, two fingers double tapping twice as if in answer to his heartbeat. "I guess we'll see."
He covered her hand with his own, and a few seconds passed before he nodded with determination. His aspirations were beginning to blur as she carved out her place in what he had thought was a cold heart. Or rather, his goals remained the same, but his desire for achieving them was evolving. Taking her hand in his, he placed it in the crook of his elbow. "I should see you to the perimeter. Thank you for the tea, Rose."
~SW~
Hux sat in his tent, staring at the small pouch of tea Rose had given him. Nearly an hour had gone by since he'd seen her, and he knew he needed his sleep, yet drinking something someone gave him was no small thing. His own father's demise had been orchestrated with the assistance of Phasma and a toxin.
However, Rose remembering his preference for tea meant something. It touched him. Logically, he knew the Resistance would not benefit from his death at this particular point in time, but it still felt as though a great measure of trust was needed to partake of her kind gesture.
Eventually, he moved on to making a cup, though he ended up staring at the dark fluid as the cup remained on the table. When it began to cool, he moved on to cradling the cup in his hands. Ever closer it came.
He wanted to reach out; he wanted to take this leap for her … with her. Closing his eyes, Hux lifted the cup and drained it. Then, he set it aside and went to bed. He would know for sure by morning, but irrespective of what happened next, he felt freer for taking the chance.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading! If you're enjoying the story, please let me know. Hearing from you means a lot. Thank you for every follow, favorite and review. Until Part X …