Author's Note: Smatterings of strong language in this chapter.


The first time it happened, Armitage found himself in a sheer state of panic. His beloved Millicent was gone. He knew cats were particularly good at hiding, and heavens knew Millicent was a master at the art, but he knew his cat and normally he'd have found her by now.

"Millicent?" he peered beneath his bed for the twentieth time in the last hour to no avail.

His apartment was in complete disarray at this point; closets flung open, their contents strewn, every surface rifled with as Armitage continued the search for his missing cat. The only logical conclusion was that she'd gotten out somehow, so he grabbed his keys and a treat bag, ready to start prowling the streets like a lunatic, looking for his cat. Just as he was about to head out the door, there was a knock. He swung the door open to find Poe standing there with a very contented Millicent purring in his arms.

"I think this belongs to you," Poe smirked.

"Millicent," Armitage breathed out, letting the treats and his keys clatter to the floor as he reached out for his cat. Hugging her tightly to his chest, he asked, "Where did you find her?"

"It was the darnedest thing, I was tidying up for tonight when I found her curled up in my closet. No idea how long she's been there, but I must have left my door cracked open when I took the trash out or something."

Armitage frowned at the cat. "Millicent, that was very naughty, worrying me like that."

Poe chuckled, "Guess she missed hanging out with me or something." He reached out and scritched her chin.

"Yes, well, thank you for bringing her back."

"No problem." He started to turn before turning back, "Say, did you want to join us tonight? I'm having some friends over, nothing fancy. Just pizza and beers, maybe some board games."

"Oh, um," Armitage wasn't sure how to respond, "I- thank you, but I'd better not."

"Why not? The more the merrier."

"Er, well," Armitage took a deep breath and stood up straighter. "It's just, I'm not exactly personable am I? People don't really like me."

"I'm people. I like you," Poe smiled.

Armitage blushed. "Er, I, well, thank you," he stammered, "nevertheless I just think, I think your friends would be more comfortable if I, er, weren't there."

"Hey," Poe clapped a hand on Hux's shoulder, "don't worry about it. Just know, you're welcome any time."

Armitage gulped. "Thank you."

"Right, well," Poe gave a little salute. "Catcha later, Hux. Millicent."

Later that night, as he read his book, Armitage could hear the sounds of joviality coming from across the hall. For once he wasn't annoyed by it. Instead, he just felt lonely.


The second time it happened, Armitage wasn't even home. He'd gone out for a run. Upon his return, he found Poe in the hallway holding Millicent.

"Hey," Poe smiled down at him from atop the stairs. "Raining?"

Armitage shook some water droplets from his hair. "What gave it away?" he huffed. "Why do you have my cat?"

"She wandered over again. Found her in my sock drawer this time."

"Millicent, it's rude to force your way into strange men's drawers," he scolded the tabby. He hesitated to pick her up out of Poe's arms in his sweaty, rain-soaked state. "I'm disgusting right now, I can't possibly… follow me?" he shifted his gaze to Poe's eyes.

"Sure," Poe nodded.

Armitage unlocked his door, leaving it open behind him to allow Poe in. "How long were you waiting?" he asked from the bathroom where he grabbed a towel to pat himself dry before making his way back out to the living room.

"Not long," Poe deposited the cat on her carpeted tower. "Your door was locked, so we just kind of chilled."

Armitage made his way into the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. "I can't fathom how she got out again. I'm quite diligent with the door and she's never tried to get out before."

"Guess she just finds me irresistable." Poe grinned from the kitchen doorway.

"Indeed."

"What can I say, I have that effect on people."

"Do you now?" Armitage's left eyebrow quirked up.

Poe simply smirked. A silence fell on the pair of them. Feeling unnerved by the way Poe was looking at him, Armitage turned away under the pretense of pouring himself some more water.

"I never asked you how your trip went," Poe spoke. "You mentioned it was an emergency. Is everything okay now?"

Armitage took a deep breath. In his experience, revealing anything personal simply turned that information into material others could use to manipulate him. Dare he share anything personal with this man he hardly knew? When Armitage turned back around to face Poe, all he could see was trust and kindness in the other man's eyes. Gulping, he steeled himself, before speaking.

"My father passed away. I had to deal with the aftermath," his voice was clipped.

"Oh, dude, I'm sorry," Poe's posture softened.

"Don't be. My father was a tosser and the world is better off without him," Armitage surprised himself at the level of anger he heard come from his mouth.

Poe's eyes widened. "Oh, well… I'm still sorry. Losing a parent is never easy."

"And you would know?" Armitage sneered. He could feel his defences going up.

"Yeah," Poe shoved his hands in his pockets. "My mom died when I was eight. My dad and I are still close, but I dunno, it's definitely had an effect on me."

Armitage turned bright red and mumbled, "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it," Poe smiled at him. "Well anyway, I'm probably keeping you from whatever it is you were going to do. I'll leave you to it."

Armitage simply nodded.

"But Hux," he turned, "if you ever want to talk about… anything, you know where to find me."

"Right," Armitage remained glued to the kitchen counter at his back until he heard his front door click shut after Poe. This was certainly not the turn he expected his morning to take.


The third time it happened, Armitage just knew where she was. He'd been avoiding Poe since their last encounter, so he cursed his bad luck that his cat had become obsessed with his neighbor.

He knocked on the door across the hall. A few moments later, Poe came to the door. "Heya, Hux," he smiled. "What's shakin'?"

"Where's my cat?"

"Again?" At Hux's nod, he opened the door wider. "Well I haven't seen her, but come on in and have a look."

When Armitage stepped into the apartment, it hit him that he was treading into unfamiliar territory. He'd never been inside Poe's apartment, having only seen the little bit of the entryway those times he stood at his front door. The other man's apartment was less orderly than his own, but it only contributed to the coziness of the space. The walls and surfaces were adorned with framed photographs, presumably of friends and family. The living room walls were painted a dark navy color, but the darkness only made the space feel more comfortable, like you could curl up and fall asleep easily in there.

After a few minutes of searching, Armitage spotted her sleeping under the kitchen table on some folders stacked there.

"Ah ha!" Armitage called in triumph. "There you are, young lady."

"You found her?" Poe came back down the hall from his bedroom where he'd been searching.

Armitage picked the cat up, rousing her from her slumber, and stood up. "She was sleeping on… is that homework?"

"That's the homework I've already graded." Poe gestured to the stack of folders on top of the table. "That's the homework I've yet to grade."

"You're a teacher." It wasn't so much a question as a statement.

Poe nodded. "American history. Or rather American propaganda. The school board keeps a pretty tight reign on what we can and can't teach. But I try to sneak some rebels and rabble-rousers here and there where I can."

Armitage narrowed his eyes, "Why do I get the feeling you're one such rabble-rouser yourself?"

Poe chuckled. "Guilty. Probably why I'm so passionate about teaching these kids the truth about their history. But I try to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Lead by example and all that."

"I see," Armitage in fact did not see. All his life he'd only associated with the upper echelons of society; needless to say none of them had any issues with the status quo.

"What about you?" Poe asked. "You clearly don't teach, not with those sharp suits you're always wearing."

"I'm a Senior Associate for the law firm, Palpatine, Skywalker & Snoke."

"Oh shit, really?" Poe breathed out a laugh. "That practically makes you the enemy."

Armitage bristled at that statement. "The enemy?"

"I just mean… you know you guys are representing some pretty dastardly clients, right?"

"Attorney-client privilege prevents me from confirming that."

Poe rolled his eyes. "Whatever, you have some pretty high profile clients, and it's all over the news that you rep them. I mean, First Order Inc.? They're buying out all the affordable housing in the city, then sitting on it till they can turn them into high end condos to sell to the highest bidder. Then those same rich fucks wonder why we have a housing crisis on our hands!"

"I should go," Armitage turned bruskly toward the door.

"Wait, Hux," Poe wheeled around to stop the other man's stride. "I'm sorry, I just feel really strongly about this. I don't think you personally are the enemy."

"Yes, well-"

"Do you like it?" Poe asked. At Hux's confused expression he continued, "Do you like what your job? Do you like what you do?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"If you like it, fine, but if you don't, why do it?" When Poe was met with silence he pressed on. "If you could do anything else, what would it be?"

Paint, Armitage's mind immediately went to his paintings, but he dared not voice that. "It doesn't matter what I want," he pushed past Poe.

"Of course it matters what you want!" Poe stopped him by placing his hand against Hux's chest. "Of course it matters," he said more softly. "Look, just come to one of our Indivisible meetings. Hear what people have to say. I host some of them here, so it wouldn't even be out of the way for you."

"I've got to go." Armitage roughly shouldered past the shorter man before storming across the hall and slamming the door behind him, leaving Poe standing there wondering what the hell just happened.