"Made it to where?" Hux asked. "Where are we headed?"

"Um, ha, I didn't look. I just told it to go wherever it had last jumped to." Poe checked the coordinates. "Huh. The Hosnian system."

Hux shrugged. "That makes sense."

Poe got out of his seat and opened the floor panel behind it. "What are you guys doing in the Hosnian system? Or what's left of it?"

Hux swiveled to watch him. "Monitoring it and the traffic moving through it. The supreme leader seemed to think it important." He sounded like he had a low opinion of Kylo Ren's priorities.

Poe went about the business of disabling the ship's tracker. "What was he looking for?"

"I don't know. I'm not sure he knew. Something Force-related, I'm sure. He rambled nonsensically about wounds and injuries to the life force of the galaxy."

Poe paused in his work. "You mean … to the Living Force?"

Hux hesitated as well, thinking. "Yes, I believe that's the phrase he used. What does it mean?"

"Not sure. And I'm not sure we have anyone left alive in the galaxy who would know. Aside from Kylo Ren and Luke's last student."

"Rey? The scavenger?" Poe nodded and kept working. Hux continued, "Well, whatever he's doing, he's not keeping the rest of the High Command apprised, which as I said before, is not a departure from how Snoke managed things. The lack of adherence to proper protocol also spawns exactly what you did – breaking me out without documentation. His own fault, really," Hux mused. He leaned over, looking down at where Poe had pulled the black box up to the deck while he disconnected cables to isolate it. "Is that it?"

"Yep. Just about done. Once I jettison this, we'll be free to make other jumps without being tracked."

"Jumps to the Resistance?"

"Not unless that's where you want to go." He paused to look up and study Hux.

"I have not changed my mind. I will not take up arms against my … my people." Hux swallowed and looked away when Poe glanced up at him. "Even if they're not 'my' people anymore."

"You don't have to fight."

"Just by being there, associated, I would be rendering aid and giving comfort to the people who were fighting. The Republic granted no exceptions to the kitchen workers at the Academy when they bombed Arkanis. The Resistance makes no effort to limit their attacks on our star destroyers, which carry thousands of non-combatants. It is no defense. I will not do it."

Poe finished with the tracking device/black box and closed the floor panel. "I don't know how many First Order non-combatants I've killed."

"Probably only a few thousand support staff and their families on Starkiller Base. The Fulminatrix had a skeleton crew of mostly subadults, but they were combat-qualified. I wouldn't count them, and you were just portion of that attack, anyway."

"Only a few thousand," he said hollowly.

"My point is that I know you might see a distinction between combatants and the people who support and enable them, but I don't. I won't support attacks against the Order." The silence stretched on as Poe mentally tallied his combat kills (already very high) and added 'a few thousand' for good measure. Hux swallowed hard again after the silence had stretched on too long. "You should have left me."

"They would have killed you. Right? You said they would."

Hux shook his head and shrugged his way through an eyeroll. "It's immaterial."

"It's not to me." Poe gave him a long look. "Gotta question for you – is there anyone who has killed as many people in the First Order as I have?"

"Who is still alive?" Hux asked. Poe nodded. "Not that I know of."

He chewed his lips briefly, thinking about what Hux had said to him in the interrogation room. "That's why you wanted me dead – not even bothering to question me."

"That was why I wanted you dead. But that time has passed."

"And you're … willing to let me go back to the Resistance?"

Hux looked ill. "Get rid of that." He gestured at the black box.

Poe went aft to find a port he could use to toss it into the wilds of hyperspace. It crossed his mind to wonder if the Finalizer had run into something someone had once left behind them. Space was so huge. The odds were astronomical, right? He disposed of it and returned to the cockpit.

When he returned, Hux said, "I will part ways with you if you intend to return to the Resistance."

"But you'd let me do it? You'd let me go?"

"What you do outside my association is not my business."

"But-"

"Do you really wish to press this point with me?" Hux said angrily. There was hurt behind it. "Do you intend to manufacture a series of imaginary circumstances where I would feel obligated to take your life?"

"No."

"Good! Because I have left the only life I've ever known. My entire existence was the First Order, the military, from my earliest remaining memories. I did not leave it … explicitly … for you, but if I had crashed alone and been recovered, I would have gone to my fate in the Order without attempting to leave it. And I would have sent that transmission to them to start with, were I able to do the repairs and survive everything else. If you really want to serve the Resistance, you should have left me on that ship to be executed."

Poe cradled Hux's face. "I didn't leave you. I'm not leaving you now. I'm not going to the Resistance." Poe kissed him.

Hux kissed him back. When they parted, he asked, "What am I, if I'm not a general? If I change my name and I'm no longer even a Hux?"

"The man stranded on that planet with me wasn't either of those things. He was just you."

"The Resistance is where your friends are. Your career. Your life. It is wrong for me to interfere with that."

"Don't worry about it. I'll send them a comm at some point," Poe said. "They deserve that much, especially if anyone who tried to mount that rescue operation survived. But I'm going with you."

Hux laid a hand over his. "What do we do next, then?"

"Did you get dinner?"

"Yes."

Poe nodded. "Then, if you've eaten, I think what comes next is we get some sleep. We'll be in hyperspace for hours." He waved at the swirling lights out the window. "Does this thing have beds?" He turned and looked down the narrow cabin. He hadn't seen any as he'd gone back earlier.

"I think so." Hux rose and went to the back. Poe followed him. "Here," Hux said, pulling down a folding bunk. "Two of them."

They were each wide enough for one person. Poe picked at the thin pad that passed as a mattress. It was removable. So he removed it. He tossed it on the floor and reached for the other one.

"What are you doing?" Hux asked.

"Do you want to sleep together or apart?"

Hux helped him throw the second one on the floor next to the first. Poe smirked at that. Hux asked, "Are you going to sleep in the armor?"

"Nah." Poe stepped to the side and removed all the plates and pieces, putting them on the bunk. It left him in the body sleeve. Hux took off his top layer: tunic, trousers, boots, and belt. Poe said, "They took your knife?"

"Yes," Hux said in regret. "And the pistol. It was customized. I liked it. I'd practiced a lot with it. As I had also practiced with the knife."

Poe shrugged. "I've gone through a lot of ships and droids through the war. I know it sucks to lose stuff."

"I've lost everything."

Poe moved closer to him. "You have your freedom now."

"That thing the Rebellion wanted so badly from the Empire?"

Poe nodded. "It's worth a lot."

"To some. I must say I don't know what to do with it."

"I can think of a few things." Poe kissed him softly, and Hux returned it just as softly. Poe broke the kiss, cupping Hux's face in his hands. "Can you find it in yourself to trust me even more?"

"With what?"

"Your heart."

"I am a sadistic bastard. You said so yourself. Heartlessness must be a component of that."

With his thumb, Poe stroked the soft skin high on Hux's cheek, under his eye. "The other night … when you stroked my back … you enjoyed making me feel good. That's not the act of a sadist. You were happy I liked it. Remember that?"

Hux's gaze drifted down. He didn't answer, but he didn't deny it either.

Poe swallowed and stroked with both thumbs. "I want more of that. Please." He drew out the last word. Hux had liked it before. He liked it now.

Hux kissed him. Hux's hands traveled down Poe's front and lifted the hem of his shirt. "Take this off." He stepped back, leaving Poe to disrobe. "And I will try to please you."

Poe smiled and complied, tossing the garment onto the pieces of armor. He left his bottoms and socks on. He sat on one of the mattresses, sitting loosely cross-legged. Hux stood behind him, then knelt. His hands touched lightly over Poe's skin, making it prickle in a frisson. "Mmm," Poe hummed.

"Is this right? What … what should I do?"

"More of this. I like it." Poe turned his head to see him as Hux skated his hand across the width of Poe's shoulders. Poe asked, "What do you like? What makes you hot?" Hux made an inarticulate noise and was silent. When his eyes shifted to Poe's skin and it seemed he wouldn't answer, Poe said, "You asked me about my hate. Where does your love come from?"

"Love?" Hux sounded disbelieving.

"What do you have a passion for? I'm serious."

"It's amazing you think I have the capacity for such things. And humbling."

"You're human. I know you do. Tell me."

Hux again looked uncertain, but he found an answer. "Victory? Success, winning. Order. Stability." A pause, and a warier tone of voice: "Safety."

Poe made a single nod. "Those all fit together." And were no good for telling sexual preferences aside from 'don't make me feel like a loser' and 'help me feel safe and taken care of'. So … no humiliation or indifference. That was easy. "Tell me more about victory. Is it the dominance? The power?"

Hux was quiet, petting up and down Poe's spine. It felt nice. He had a sensitive touch. "Not … exactly. The power has never been mine. Or rarely. It's more about … how winning lets me know I was doing what I was supposed to. Maybe the hope that others might see it as an example to follow. To be recognized for that."

"Do you want the power?"

"I want the recognition."

Praise, Poe almost blurted out, but didn't. Instead, he tried something. "This feels really good. You're doing a good job right now. I like the way you touch me."

Hux was not slow – he immediately caught what Poe was doing – but he laughed instead of being offended. He leaned forward and kissed Poe on the side of the neck. "Is that all I need do?" he purred. "Tell you what I want and you'll give it to me?"

Now Poe laughed, though he could hear how unlikely Hux thought it was. "Yes, that's exactly how it works. Remember I said you have to tell me what to do? Just tell me. I like making people happy. I want to make you happy."

Hux gave him a doubting look and said in a droll tone, "Tell me I'm wonderful."

"You are."

Hux hesitated. Not so droll, he said, "And handsome."

"I've never seen more."

Hux looked like he might be starting to believe him. "Tell me you like me."

"Oh, I like you."

"Tell me you'll never leave me."

Poe blinked and hesitated. He turned halfway so he wasn't seeing Hux out of the corner of his eye. Hux's eyes narrowed but he was otherwise still at this sudden, serious turn. Poe said, "It's early for that." He paused, but Hux didn't explode into a rage or anything worse. Poe added in his sincerest tone, "I can promise I will do everything I can to make this work between us. I will be open and honest with you at all times. And if things don't work out, I will be as graceful and amicable as possible in parting ways or staying friends, whichever you decide."

"A less realistic answer, I would not have believed." Hux let his eyes shut for a long moment. Poe touched his knee. Hux opened his eyes and moved forward, hugging him and pushing him over until Poe was flat on his back and Hux atop him, kissing with rising energy. Poe ran his hands up Hux's sides, pulling his undershirt along with them. They broke from the kiss long enough for Hux to take it off, then they resumed.

"Does that mean the other things you said are true?" Hux asked as Poe worked his way down the man's jaw. Although it hadn't exactly been stubbly when they'd left the planet, it was baby-smooth now. In addition to the new uniform and cleaning up, he'd shaved.

"Uh-huh," Poe told him between nips and kisses.

"You're silly." Hux was holding Poe to him, flexing against him, stretching to give Poe as much as access as he could to his neck and upper chest.

"Is that a good thing, or a bad thing?" He ran a hand over Hux's ass and down to his thigh to pull the leg higher on him.

"I called you insane when I saw your maneuvers over D'Qar. But I guess you'd have to be to do this with me."

Poe caressed Hux's thigh where he still had a grip on it. "Big risks get big rewards. You might like to play it safe, but I'm fine with danger. You're the most dangerous man I've ever been with." He bit Hux on the upper pectoral, enjoying the resulting gasp and arch.

Hux tightened his fist in Poe's hair. Poe let go of him with his teeth. Hux said, "I'll make sure not to introduce you to my friends. Though that shouldn't be a problem given our circumstances."

"Don't worry. I think I've got all I can handle here." He took his hand from Hux's thigh and ran it down Hux's belly to his groin. Hux gasped again as Poe gripped the bulge there and massaged it. Hux's hips jerked with the motions. He made a faint keen in Poe's ear. Poe asked, "Want more?"

"Yes." It was a whisper.

Poe rolled them both over, putting himself on top, more or less. His leg was still between Hux's. His hand slipped inside the man's underwear. Hux's eyes were big. Poe leaned down, testing the waters. Hux pulled him closer, partly onto him, and kissed him passionately. Poe began to pump at him. Hux shuddered at each stroke, acting like he didn't know what to do with himself. He broke from the kiss and bit Poe on the shoulder, kissed him there, then bit him again.

He thrust into Poe's hand. His free leg twined around Poe's and powered his thrusts. He gasped and shook and came apart in Poe's arms, spilling over his hand and onto his own belly. The gasps turned irregular like he was struggling for breath, then he quieted. A few moments later, he started breathing and sniffled furtively.

Poe wiped his hand off on the leg of his own bottoms and hugged Hux tightly. "You're safe. You're safe, buddy. You are wonderful and handsome and I like you. I love seeing you like this. You're being so good. I think this is all new for you, right?" Hux nodded brokenly. "You're doing great," Poe reassured. "That was incredible."

Hux's belly contracted in a few soundless laughs. "I did nothing."

"You let go," Poe said. "That's not nothing. You let it happen. You joined in. You were entirely present."

"How could anyone be other?"

"Oh, you'd be surprised. But as long as we're together, you're not going to find out." Poe kissed him on the forehead. Hux hugged him awkwardly, breathing easier now. Poe whispered, "I'm glad you're with me. I'm glad we're together like this."

"I'm glad you didn't leave me there," Hux said back in a quiet, low tone.

Poe nuzzled him, working his way to Hux's mouth and kissing it open. He licked inside, teasing at lips and tongue. Hux's breath caught and his grip tightened on Poe's shoulder and side. Poe pushed his hips forward, looking for a little friction against Hux's side and trying to mentally work out what he should do, if he should stop kissing and talk or keep going.

Hux got the message without all that. The hand on Poe's side slid to his hip and then under the waistband of the body sleeve. Poe reached down with his free hand to shove the band down. He reached further and freed himself, balls and all. Hux's hand was on him before he was done. Hux broke from the kiss, looking down at what he was doing – pumping unevenly at first, then feeling around over him in a way that was ticklish.

Poe chuckled but didn't pull away. "Never had a dick in your hand?"

"Only my own. It's awkward from this angle," Hux said. "It's backwards." He shot Poe an uncertain look.

"It doesn't have to be. Roll toward me." Poe settled on his side. "Like we're sleeping."

"Ah." Hux spooned behind him, giving him a reach-around. "Was this what you had in mind on the planet?"

"No. I was freezing to death the first time. Cold the second. And just happy to be with you the other times. But you can give me a new reason to like it."

Hux had started slow, but he sped up now. The rush of sensations stole anything else Poe might have intended to say. Hux kissed his shoulder. Poe put his head back against Hux's shoulder in turn, letting it loll. Hux nibbled at his ear, his hot breaths amplified by the proximity.

Poe moaned and let his hips shift a little. He reached back under Hux's arm and splayed his fingers over Hux's hip, holding them together as Hux picked up the pace further. Poe moaned again. His toes curled and his knees bent. His breath turned to a shuddering gasp as he came.

Hux gently bit his way down the side of Poe's neck, ending with a kiss right where he'd started. Poe rolled his head to the side. "Thank you. You're so much more than I thought you were."

"As are you." Hux pulled over his shirt, but didn't put it on. It ended up draped sideways over both of them. The reason for this became clear a few moments later when Hux's breathing deepened and his hand slid limply out of Poe's hair. Poe sighed and drowsed with him. It would be hours before they dropped out of hyperspace.

A beeping alerted him that the hours had passed. Poe grunted and shifted. He felt stiff. Hux vanished behind him, leaving Poe to flop over on his back and look up at the startled man. "You okay?" Hux looked down at him and nodded silently. He was rubbing his wrist. Poe sat up and handed him the shirt. "Wanting your knife?"

Hux nodded again and put the shirt on as Poe got to his feet. A crusty patch on his pant leg detached from his thigh. Poe scratched at it. "You always wake up like that?"

"It's dangerous not to."

Poe cocked his head. Life on a star destroyer wasn't … shouldn't be … that hard. Then again, he remembered the lash marks. "It's just the warning that we'll be dropping out of hyperspace in a few minutes." He pulled on his shirt and headed to the pilot's seat. "Everything looks normal," he said after reviewing the controls.

"I'll set the stealth package to activate as soon as we exit." Hux slid into the other seat, working the controls on that side. "It takes too much power to run concurrently with the hyperdrive."

They exited on schedule. Poe leaned forward in the cockpit, silently looking at the structure they found around themselves. It looked like the framework of a cage, but big enough to hold one of the First Order's biggest ships. Not the Supremacy, but definitely one of those Resurgent-class destroyers. There were gaps between the interrupted struts that made flying out of it an easy task, especially in a ship their size. For now, Poe let the little ship drift. "What is that?" he finally asked.

"There's a lot of debris in the area. That's a repulsor field to ensure a clean landing zone."

"Ah." He checked the scanners. "There's a ship over there." Poe pointed out to the right. "You can just see it."

Hux nodded. "As I said, we've been monitoring the area. That's one of the imperial ones. Probably the Allegiance. It should be far enough away that we can jump without interference."

"They can't see us?"

"Not now. They might have seen the pseudomotion flicker when we arrived, before the stealth system could come fully online. I'm not sure if their scanners are advanced enough to pick us up now that we're cloaked. It wasn't our policy to upgrade the older ships unless they were damaged. The Allegiant sub-fleet was in good shape when it joined up with the Order."

Poe looked at the scanners again. "Oh, they're moving toward us. I gotta get us out of here. Where do you want to go?" Hux started to speak, then stopped. Poe asked, "What? We don't have a lot of time."

"I won't insult you by suggesting again that you return to the Resistance."

Poe chuckled at him. "Good. But is there anywhere in the galaxy you've ever wanted to see more of?"

"Arkanis."

Poe blinked at him, remembering it mentioned as Hux's birthplace in the files. But he hadn't been there since he was what? Five? Six? Maybe he had family there, family of the not-Brendol-Hux variety. Poe looked at the navicomputer. "Okay. I can work with that. It'll take multiple jumps, but this thing was fully fueled when we stole it." He loaded the coordinates.