The Patron Saint of Lost Causes
Chapter 13
"It's not deep," Hux informed her. Rose shrugged back on the shoulder of her Major's coat where she sat, in the back of the command shuttle.
Big 'ol slash, right across the side of her sleeve. Damn.
Well, it could still be saved, she thought, checking the small tear with gentle fingers. She could sew it— the stitch would be terrible— but at least it could be saved.
Funny…
She used to associate her stolen uniform with few positive emotions: the fear of that day on the Supremacy; it's raw power, dark and tempting.
But now she… sort of had a different memory to associate it with, didn't she?
Rose glanced over at Hux, who was frowning softly down at her.
He had the shuttle's onboard medkit open between them, empty bactapatch wrapper held in a gloved hand.
"Thanks," she said, unsure if she was angry at him or… not. He'd had the audacity to try and trick her after all.
To her surprise, he reached out and brushed away the mess of hair that had fallen out of place and onto her forehead. She'd long since lost her cap. He tilted his head to the side, eyes narrowing as he appraised the small bump against her hairline.
Green eyes flicked down to hers.
"Does that hurt?"
Rose swallowed, feeling his warm attention on her skin and the slight stick of leather. "No. It's fine."
He prodded gently at the swelling.
She winced.
"Humph," Hux huffed, unimpressed. His lips twitched in thought as he pulled back.
He thumbed through more of the medkit, extracting a small packet of gel, not unlike the one she'd used along his jaw a few days ago. She watched as he carefully plucked at the glove on his left hand, laying it in his lap, then he tore at the edge of the packet.
He pushed back her hair, smearing a small dollop of bacta onto his bare finger and dabbing it on the bruise.
"Guess it's your turn to 'tend to me,' huh?" She joked quietly, letting him work.
Hux allowed a very small flick at the corner of his mouth; barely a smile, but something that was a little hesitant.
Rose tried not to squirm, eyes zeroing in on the pale, pink skin of his wrist bobbing in front of her face. When he was done, but before he could pull away, she gently stopped his hand with her own. He stilled, watching as she turned his palm up and kissed at the joint of his wrist, achingly familiar to his own actions not too long ago.
She tried not to smile as she let go of him, but it was pretty much impossible.
Hux flushed, glancing around the shuttle's cabin, but Finn was up in the cockpit with Poe; they were alone. He relaxed slightly, but quickly froze again once he felt Rose lacing her fingers within his, trapping him from putting his glove back on.
Was she mad at him?
A little.
But, she liked how his bare hand felt in hers more than she wanted to be annoyed with him.
"I'm s—"
"Hey, it's fine." Rose squeezed his hand, letting out a huge sigh. "We're all alive, that's what matters."
There was that look in his eyes again; intense and personal, but not quite lust. Like she were a spark of brilliance come to life. Or maybe some wonder; the only good thing in the entire galaxy.
"Why do you do that?" She asked suddenly.
Hux blinked. "Do what."
"Look at me like that."
He really blushed then; she watched it flair under the thin film of grime that was coating his face. With the way his head was turned, she could see it even reached his ears.
She expected him to deny it, but instead, he mumbled, "Isn't it obvious?"
Rose blinked, but then grinned, sly.
"I'm 'simply too powerful to deny' huh?"
He frowned, but it was slanted towards a pout. "Don't gloat."
Rose laughed, she couldn't help it, but the joyous sound quickly gave way to tired tears.
She felt Hux's hand twitch in hers.
"I'm so exhausted," she said, wiping her eyes with a sniff and sitting back in the jumpseat. She let out a stuttering breath.
"Rest then," he said, quiet and concerned.
"Hey! Hugs! A little help up here?"
Poe's voice came from the cockpit.
Rose let him slide his hand from her grasp.
"Rest," he urged again, eyebrows jumping, before rising stiffly to his feet; tall in the tiny shuttle.
"What is it," he snapped tersely, stalking from the cabin to the bridge.
Rose smiled at his gruff tone, where moments before it had been almost tender. That was the whole of him, she supposed with a small snort. She moved the med kit aside to lay down.
Hux had left his now rather singed greatcoat on the next seat over. Rose pulled it closer, bundling it up as a makeshift pillow. It smelled scorched, but a little like him, too.
She wasn't sure she'd be able to sleep, not after everything that had happened, but she was soon drifting off at the sounds of the boys talking on the bridge.
"We should all go back to the Resistance base, discuss options, and go from there," Finn proposed.
"I'm surprised," Hux said. "You would help the First Order? Lead us to your base?"
"They're just kids." The other man had said, and shrugged. "I remember what it was like, don't you?"
Yes, Hux did.
The Destroyer's Captain, a young woman named Andara Triss, didn't balk when Hux gave her the order to follow his coordinates to the Resistance base. She was eager to procure safe passage, if not provisions, for the cadets.
Hours later, they all landed back at base, and the entire place was buzzing, even after Poe ordered everyone to stand down. Rose could hear them before they even opened the hatch door as she yawned herself awake.
In Dameron's defense, Hux thought, no explanation could fully prepare anyone for the sudden appearance of a First Order Star Destroyer above Ajan Kloss.
He pitied the man with the smallest mote of sympathy he could possibly muster.
Captain Triss, came planetside with her Lieutenant not long after. They'd discussed terms, Hux acting both as General and mediator.
"Are we… surrendering, sir?"
Hux ignored the look Dameron had given him. "It is a mutually beneficial ceasefire, Captain," he'd explained. "Nothing more. With the Sith still at large, it is more than prudent for us to pool resources. For now."
He hadn't chastised her for her inaction on the battlefield. It had been a prudent decision for her to hold off on taking sides. If anything, with how close the blade had been to their necks, Hux was impressed at her loyalty to the Order.
To his dark delight, Neither Poe nor Triss seemed to like each other very much. The Commander on the other hand, D'Acy, formed a quick rapport with the young woman.
A tentative truce was struck. The Contrador and Resistance would share supplies, the cadets would be allowed down to the planet's surface, and Resistance medics would be able to go aboard and check on the children. A temporary situation before a more permanent solution could be brokered.
Later that evening, Hux watched the flames of the bonfire leap and flicker as he ruminated on the day's events.
A log crackled; showering sparks up into the night. Somewhere along the way he'd forgotten what contained fire looked like. Something primal hummed in him at the sight of it; the sound, the faint roar. Destruction, but at a distance.
Hux followed the dying embers as they floated skyward, trailing off against the Star Destroyer above the planet's atmosphere. The ship still glowed faintly with sunset, even as the planet had turned below its star's light. It made the hull look aflame.
He thought of the cadets. Captain Triss had expressed her desire to send the very youngest back to their families, if possible. He'd allow it. Twenty thousand down to fifteen already, and it hadn't even been a full sleep cycle. No doubt more would follow.
The last of the First Order, he thought wistfully; dwindling embers day by day.
Perhaps it was for the best, in the end.
"This seat taken?"
He looked over at Rose, drawn by her voice, quiet in the darkening evening. She'd ducked out during negotiations, presumably to use the fresher.
She'd changed out of her Major's uniform, now back in her normal Resistance fatigues. The collar was uneven, somewhat up more on one side; top buttons undone. She was much more relaxed out of her stiff, First Order regalia, but Hux thought that only made her all the more imposing. She wasn't Major Tico anymore; she was Rose.
Hux scooted over on his log bench, giving her access to sit. When she did, he noticed she was carrying a cup.
"Want a sip?" She brandished it in his direction. "We can share."
Hux's lip curled. "What is it?"
"Well, I don't really know, but it's strong. Try it."
Hux licked his lips with reservation, taking the mug from her hand. He sniffed it, giving her a look over the rim of the cup. Light from the fire flickered over her face, darkening her already soulful eyes.
"It smells like engine coolant."
Rose laughed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Yeah, it's not the best. But hey, we should celebrate. The cadets are safe; some of them are even returning to their home systems. That's a good thing," she added at his expression. "It means you made the right choice. The good one."
Hux wrinkled his nose, busying himself with taking a sip so he wouldn't have to look at her eager, hopeful expression. Hope; something he couldn't even tease her about anymore because she'd been right all along.
The liquor burned his tongue with an unpleasant tang.
Hux swallowed and pulled a face.
"Truly awful," he stated down into the cup, as if informing the liquid itself of its own hellishness. He took another sip anyway.
Rose giggled softly, swaying back as she pulled her knees up, wrapping her arms loosely around them and staring skyward at the belly of the Destroyer.
"Do you think they're alright up there? It's too bad we don't have enough resources to bring them down all at once."
"Rotating shifts are fine," Hux muttered, passing the cup back to her. "Captain Triss knows what she's doing. She just wants what's best for her men."
"Your men, you mean?"
Hux blinked, and suddenly realized he was leaning forward, arms on his knees, back rounded. He sat up straight again, clearing his throat.
"Yes," he glanced away. "Of course."
Rose was giving him a searching look, warm and with an upturned purse to her lips. She took a sip of the moonshine.
"Supreme Leader Armitage Hux, huh?"
He scoffed, unsure if the warmth in him was from the bonfire or hearing her say those words. Thrilling, but also, admittedly, slightly hollow.
"Not that it means much of anything anymore," he muttered, grinding the heel of his boot into the soft earth. "The troops will end up being disbanded. It is the natural order of things."
"Do you still want it?"
He pivoted a little toward her. "Pardon?"
"You know," Rose made a gesture, passing him the cup again. "All of it. The Order, you at the top; the power to exact your will upon the galaxy."
Hux swallowed thickly.
"Yes," he said, gloved hands constricting around the cup as he took it. "But… sometimes we cannot control what things we want." He hadn't meant to glance at her like that when he'd said those words, but he had, and the sudden snap of hunger in her tugged at all that made him.
In all honesty, he wanted her most of all.
It was a terrifying thing, because Rose wasn't power; a thing he could capture in his hand and bend to his whims and wishes. Her heart was too fierce. He had to contend with her as a person. Someone who could hurt him. Who wouldn't, he believed that, but it was still such a risk.
Hux closed his eyes, taking a rather large swig of liquor. He liked his whiskey, but even this made him shudder.
He passed the cup back, but as Rose took it, she did so with her hand over his, resting it there for a long moment.
She leaned over.
Hux's heart leapt, even as his body stilled, eyes darting around. They weren't the only people out that night, enjoying the bonfire.
Rose seemed to sense his hesitation and stopped her advance. Perhaps she could understand why he was wary, but she sort of didn't care if anyone saw them. Rose just wanted to kiss him again.
Instead, she took the cup, moving it to her other hand so she could hold his down between them, lacing their fingers together like she had back in the shuttle.
She didn't miss the way his expression softened, and it warmed her like the liquor in her belly, spreading out to the very tips of her fingers.
They sat together like that, passing their cup. At the point in which Rose was pretty sure she was comfortably tipsy to say the least, Finn came out of the base, walking towards them.
"Call for you on comms," Finn said to Hux, hiking his thumb. "Someone's asking about passcodes for data records."
Hux sighed, detangling his hand from Rose's as he stood, adjusting his uniform. Even in the glow of the fire, Rose could see his cheeks were pink.
"Can't bloody wait till morning," he groused, stalking off across the grounds back to base, hair reflecting the firelight like a little bobbing flame.
The fire popped.
"That guy?" Finn asked incredulously, pointing discreetly after the General's retreating back.
Rose gave a start, unaware that she had been watching Hux go with a lax little half-smile.
"Huh?" She felt a simmer of embarrassment.
Finn rolled his eyes, huffing loudly as he sunk down onto an upturned crate. Rose fiddled with the cup in her hand.
"You really like him," Finn said after a moment.
Rose pinched the bridge of her nose, trying to get a handle on herself. Hadn't she just said she didn't care if anyone knew? Why was she feeling so mortified?
Finn was quiet, and then, "Did something happen? On the Dreadnought?"
"Yeah," Rose said, muffled a little by her hand. "We sort of… had a disagreement. And then I… I sort of… kissed him."
Finn's eyes went wide, mouth gone slack, before he quickly got himself together.
He leaned way forward, hissing conspiratorially. "You what?!"
"I wanted to!" She protested. "And… and I think he wanted to, too."
As her voice trailed off, the sound of the fire grew between them.
"You know…" Finn said after a pause, giving Rose a side-long glance. "He's probably almost done with that call."
Rose frowned at him, head tilting.
"No one else is in the comms room right now, sooo…" Finn's eyebrows jumped as he nodded toward the direction of the base.
Rose was visibly confused.
"It seems as if I'm getting mixed messages here," she muttered dryly, and then was thunderstruck by how much those words sounded like his. "But..." She bit her lip to contain a smile, brows knit together. "Are you telling me to go for it?"
"Technically I didn't say that," he muttered, holding a finger up. "Plausible deniability."
Rose rolled her eyes.
"It's just that I've been thinking," Finn went on, voice a touch introspective. "We all keep surviving. I used to chalk it up to dumb luck, but now; the Force…" He sighed. "I wish Rey would have stayed a bit longer. I have so many questions."
Rose stood slowly, giving him a soft smile as she walked over. "We'll see Rey again; she promised."
She stopped beside him. "And is that really what you think the Force is doing with me and Hux? Bringing us together?"
"It did for me," Finn said in all seriousness, looking up at her. "It did for Rey."
Something warm wrapped around her heart at the thought.
Rose patted his shoulder, walking across the now dark lawn towards the cave base's entrance. She left her cup on a bench outside.
Within the base, the lighting was poor; nothing like the Dreadnought. The rough, stone-hewn hallways were cast in shadow by the yellow string of bulbs above, the space made just a bit smaller and darker by crates of replacement equipment lining the corridors.
Rose made her way towards the comms room until she heard people speaking up ahead.
"I can tell them 'no', General." The woman on the radio was Captain Triss.
Around the corner, she heard Hux's huffing sigh. Rose peeked further and saw he was standing in the low-lit comms room, back to her.
"No, it is a reasonable trade."
"Sir…" Her voice sounded unsure, but then she remembered herself. "Yes, sir."
"Briefing in the morning," Hux said.
"Yes, sir."
Rose ducked back into the hallway, pressing against the wall.
Trade? What kind of trade?
He better not be thinking of doing something stupid again, she thought with a determined expression. Damn it, would she really have to go back to using the cuffs?
"Don't you know that it is impolite to eavesdrop?"
Rose jumped, looking up at Hux, who had come upon her like a silent, stalking cat. He'd caught her by complete surprise where she was standing against the wall.
His lips were pulled into a frown as he looked down at her, his height filling up the small corridor even more.
"What trade?" She asked, before he could steer the conversation off course.
He glared, but it lacked any real venom. "You will learn about it at the briefing tomorrow."
As if that alone would satisfy her.
"You can't tell me now?"
He glowered, but the corner of his mouth twitched up a fraction. "So impatient."
"Well, geez!" Rose huffed. "Guess I'm just a little nervous now, seeing as you've already tried once to throw yourself into harm's way." She gave him her shoulder, moving as if to turn back down the way she came.
She didn't get very far, as Hux's arm was suddenly next to the side of her face, his palm coming to rest with a thump against the wall by her head, trapping her.
In the quiet of the base, Rose could hear that thump loud in her ears. Or was that her hammering heart?
She glanced his way.
Hux was bent towards her, leaning over from the placement of his arm. There was a faint blush dusting his cheekbones, and Rose knew at least a part of that was the liquor coursing through him. It certainly roared through her. The other part, however…
She turned, flattening her spine once again upon the wall, tilting her head way back against the stone to look up at him. She heard his gloved hand constrict by her ear; a faint rasp of leather.
Then he went still, save for his green eyes. His gaze flitted over her face, her neck, down and back up again.
Rose took a deep breath; she felt it heave in her chest.
"Do something," she whispered, quiet in the space between them. His brows knit together. "Something. Anything."
The feeling from the bonfire had returned, only now that they were alone, the intensity was searing. Away from the others he seemed less hesitant, too. Good. She pressed her legs together. "I don't care what, just do some—"
Her voice died as he reached up, wrapping a gloved hand gently around her throat. No pressure, not really, just a barely-there feeling fluttering upon her skin. But as she felt his thumb gently run down the front of her neck, the entire length of it, goosebumps rose in his wake.
She swallowed unconsciously; felt the pressure of him against her windpipe with the movement.
His frown was gone, but it had been replaced with an almost pained expression. Brittle, and achingly sweet.
Rose's heart trembled with anticipation.
Keeping her head steady with his hand, he leaned down and took her mouth.
It was a much slower kiss than she'd given him, earlier on the Dreadnought. More careful. After a sweep of his tongue across her bottom lip, he gently coaxed her mouth open, tilting his head.
As he deepened the contact, she instinctively tried to take more control, impatient indeed, but the hand around her throat twitched. With more than a little effort, she made herself surrender to him instead, hearing him exhale through his nose at her compliance, shifting closer.
She let him explore her, nibbling here and there at her mouth as he tested both their boundaries. More his, Rose thought, since she was already trying to contain the shiver in her legs, easily more willing than he was to abandon all hesitancies.
After a number of plush, languid kisses, he drew his lips away from hers, pulling at her mouth with a sideways friction, only to work a kiss against the corner of her parted smile, then on her jaw, then lower still.
He was close now, having inched his way forward, and as he bent to pull at the skin of her throat with a nip of his teeth, Rose let out a breathy, satisfied sound. Finally. Her eyelids fluttered, looking at the ceiling over his brilliantly ginger head as he bent before her. He'd cleaned up since the mission, but the pomade was back.
Closing her eyes, she let her arms reach out under his and encircle his shoulder blades, knotting her hands behind his back. She drew in a deep breath of him: dark leather and amber, all wrapped up in the smell of the earlier campfire. Her fingers worked into the bottom of his hairline.
She needed him closer, but she was still sort of pinned by his hand and his mouth. Rose extended her leg to hook around the outside of his knee. He let out a noise of surprise, a rush of breath over the dewy spot his mouth had made upon her neck. She shuddered at the contrasting temperature of sigh and skin.
He seemed to get her meaning though, pivoting his weight onto that leg, bending it forward until it nudged against the inside of her thigh. He pulled back to look at her, slowly releasing her throat and letting his hand travel down to her upper arm. He gripped her there with the cuff of his hand, gloved thumb making slow circles against the fabric. A comforting gesture perhaps, but with the amount of pressure he was using, probably from nerves, it danced around pain.
He was breathing heavy as Rose gave him a little tilt of her chin, permission, and he let his knee drop against the wall in the space between her legs.
Rose closed her eyes, lips pressing together with a warm hum at the new, delightful pressure there, and again as he shifted up against her a fraction more, making her tremble.
"Hux," she took his name as a breath. He was so close to the center of her; warm and slick. She moved, finally sliding against his knee, needing that friction. As she moaned softly, he made a deep, feral kind of noise in the back of his throat.
When she was finally bold enough to meet his eye, she appreciated the way he looked at her; eyelids heavy, pupils blown wide, his mouth pink from all its attentions. He was nearly mussed up enough.
Well, she'd muss him up plenty more once she peeled off his jacket.
One of her arms slipped down from his back, inching around to the front of him. Carefully, she began nudging her fingers through the front seam of the fabric, searching for the fasteners.
As her fingers finally worked themselves inside, and Hux could feel the wiggling search of her hand against his chest, he began to lose his nerve.
Over their weeks together, she'd stripped him down: emotionally and willfully. But now she had herself hooked beneath all his remaining armor. Even if she knew who he was, what he'd done, she hadn't seen him.
Hux swallowed.
But, what if she accepted him?
Well, what if she didn't.
What if he just couldn't do it?
He wanted to try. With Rose, he wanted to try.
But— it was so fast, so much, all at once.
Rose watched how his eyes darted away, noticed how stiff he was compared to when she was nearly wrapped around him and he'd moved like a ripple of want against her.
Her lips parted slightly. "Are you okay?"
His jaw worked, throat constricting as he swallowed.
Rose blinked in surprise, letting her grip on his jacket loosen. "Have you... not done this before?"
"No, I have," he said quickly, sharply, a bit hurt, but then he grimaced. "Just, not... not like this. Not... feeling like this."
Love swelled in her chest.
Love.
Huh.
Maybe she should have been a bit more surprised at that, calling it love. But maybe she'd already known. Her care for him had come slowly at first, building as they spent their days together; learned more about each other. Honestly, there, in her heart, felt like the most natural place to keep him.
"It's fine, we can go slower," she whispered.
Gently, she released him from her grasp, and slowly smoothed out the front of his jacket where she'd bunched and creased it.
He looked a little relieved.
It was hard to keep the disappointment from her face. Rose still wanted to sink herself down onto him, nothing in-between. Her body nearly vibrated with it. But she had to remind herself, this was as much about him as it was about her. He wasn't running from her; he wanted to touch her. The mere knowledge of his desire simmered her down.
"By the way," she added. "You're a really good kisser."
She grinned at the blooming embarrassment that flared down his neck.
Hux pouted, trying to be angry through the blush and the kindness of her words.
"You are… worth the effort," he muttered.
Rose laughed, leaning forward to kiss him again, slow and deep; soft and warm.
When she pulled away, he did too, releasing her from the wall.
"Do you want to go sit by the fire again?" She took his hand in hers, kissing the space between his glove and his sleeve. His breath hitched.
"Only if you promise you'll refrain from doing anything… untoward," he said, fiddling with the cuff of the glove and giving her a look.
Rose chuckled. "I can try, but it might be a little difficult." Her brows jumped with suggestion. "Maybe you'll just have to order me not to touch you."
Hux smiled at that, a very small smile, but it was honestly the truest one she'd ever seen on him.
It filled her with warmth, and hope, and love.
To her delight, as the evening wore on and after she'd yawned for about the millionth time, Hux offered to walk her back to her room. It was sweet, Rose thought, like he was offering taking her home after some sort of date. It was attentive of him, and unexpectedly charming.
"You'll be at the briefing tomorrow, I assume?" He questioned her as she punched in her door code, standing behind her in the hallway with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Of course!" She turned and grinned at him. "I want to see what this big plan of yours is, don't I?"
He gave her a sly look, reaching out to tilt a finger against the underside of her chin as he leaned forward. She let him do it, but was sure to add a bit of resistance; keep her jaw a bit weighty. She didn't want him to think all the fight had gone out of her.
He smirked, and kissed her soundly.
"Goodnight, Rose," he said after releasing her.
"Night," she breathed, blushing at the sound of her own voice as she slipped inside, the door sliding closed behind her.
With a giddy, hysterical smile, she glanced around her room but didn't even see it. All she could focus on was how the goodness inside of her was welling up as elation in her chest, warming her from the inside out.
When she thought of being caught by Hux in comms' room hallway, their bodies pressed against each other in the dim light, that warmth surged hot in her blood, jolting down to settle as an ache between her legs.
Shucking off her clothes and flopping down onto her cot, Rose thanked the stars she was afforded her own room. Once the overhead light had been switched off and she was burrowed under the blankets, Rose let her fingers walk the traces of him all over her body, settling eventually in the place she wanted him most.
Rose pressed her face into the pillow, caressing herself, and thought of him.
The next morning, she finished getting ready in her room, having already visited the fresher and returned to her dorm to finish up. Soon, Rose was exiting the pneumatic door, ready to face the day, and was surprised to find Hux standing there, looking as pensive and dramatic as ever.
He was in uniform, and Rose eyed the First Order patch on his arm with some reservation.
"Morning," she said, as he stepped out of the way for her. "Briefing's not this early, is it?"
"No…" he said, suddenly looking a scant more insecure about his choice to stand there and wait for her. "Caf?" He asked, a little abruptly.
Rose cocked her head. "You want caf?"
He gave her an unamused look. "For you."
"Oh!" She blushed, still feeling a little morning fuzziness. Suddenly, the image of him from the night before, how she'd pictured him when she'd been alone with her sultry thoughts; it all appeared unbidden in her mind's eye. She stilled as the heat of it flooded through her, no doubt coloring her complexion. It wasn't an entirely unwelcome feeling, but it did make looking at him a little difficult.
"Yes!" She agreed with a flutter, avoiding his gaze. "Caf! We can go to the mess hall…"
"Obviously that is what I am meaning to do; walk with you there."
Rose grinned. Walk with her. It was like he were courting her in some fancy holodrama.
"Of course!" She laughed, glancing up at him, embarrassed but giddy all at the same.
Hux took in her pleased, if not fervid expression, and his shoulders relaxed a bit, drawing ease off her delight.
"Shall we?" He asked.
They had a little time before the meeting to stop by and make up some drinks; tea for him, caf for her, before they headed to the conference room.
It was supposed to be a routine morning brief, how most mornings on the base usually started, only Rose assumed today would involve a bit more info concerning their new First Order 'allies'. According to Hux's call, he'd have some news to share as well, and she was eager to hear it. But when they arrived, the little room was already at capacity, overflowing into the hall.
Rose sheltered the lip of her yellow mug behind a curved hand so nothing would spill amid the throng of people. Walking behind Hux proved useful; not only did his height help cut through the crowd, but most stepped widely out of his way, though they did throw him dirty looks.
Inside the meeting room, D'Acy was seated at the long table there, along with Poe and Finn, next to which there was a seat saved for her. Captain Triss, as well as her subordinate, a man Rose had met the day before as Lieutenant Desyk, stood along the far wall. Various other Resistance members sat upon the floor, or stood at the back.
It was clear Hux was channeling his former self as he walked commandingly over towards the Captain. Rose wanted to reach out and say something to him, maybe give him words of encouragement, but it was obvious he was very focused, so she thought it better not to be too informal.
"What's going on?" Rose asked, as she slipped into her seat next to Finn, watching Hux from across the room as he began conversing with the other First Order members in a low voices.
"Apparently, they've received a proposal."
"A proposal? From who?"
Finn shifted in his chair. "The New Republic. What was left of it, anyway."
A sudden, icy cold feeling dropped into the pit of her stomach.
"What," Rose breathed, scarcely able to do so.
D'Acy hushed the room with a wave of her hand, motioning for Hux to take the floor. He stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"Late the previous evening, the First Order was contacted by the New Republic," he informed those sitting at the table; Rose and the other Resistance Generals. His eyes were cold, detached. He spoke with clipped, formal tone, as if he were giving an official report.
"The Council was informed of our surviving numbers; the ship and its complement of cadets. They have expressed their desire to detain what remains of the First Order."
"But they're just kids!" Rose blurted.
Hux gave her a look that bordered on irritation. Even with Rose, he still detested being interrupted.
"They have agreed to accelerate the effort in locating and reuniting the youngest cadets, those under fifteen years, with their families when possible. They are also willing to offer asylum to any older cadets willing to be transferred into the Republic's new security force."
There was a swell of murmuring from the assembled crowd.
"That goes for everyone," D'Acy cut in, standing up from her chair. "The Resistance has also been in contact with the New Republic. They've set up headquarters on Lira, and are looking to incorporate the Resistance into a new peacekeeping task force. Anyone who wishes to join may do so."
"And what happens to those who don't?" Rose asked sharply. "Join, I mean," she added, trying to soften her words.
D'Acy frowned slightly. "Those in the Resistance who do not wish to join?"
Rose's gaze darted to Hux and then back to the Commander. "Sure."
The woman nodded slowly. "Any current Resistance members are free to resign their posts at any time. We simply ask that you check in with your squad or division leader, so that we may record your discharge, release your last commission, and of course, give our thanks."
A hush came over the room.
"The war's over?" Someone in the back of the pack piped up.
"The Sith remain a threat," Hux cut in. "It is, admittedly, prudent to formulate a defense force."
Poe cleared his throat, sitting up straighter. "We'll be escorting the Contrador to Lira in a few day's time. I want a few fighters to join us." He looked around at his top squadron leaders.
"Wait, wait, wait a second." Rose blurted, rising from her chair and gesticulating. Everyone's focus rounded immediately on her.
"There was a trade." She shot a look at Hux. "What was the trade?"
He pressing his lips thin, wishing she wouldn't make such a scene.
"The New Republic is only willing to pardon younger members of the Order if ranking members are remanded into Republic custody."
His words lanced into Rose's heart.
Ranking members. Like Captain Triss, Officer Vitton; General Hux.
And.. New Republic custody? The people whose star system he'd completely obliterated not even a year ago?
What would they do to him?
There was more muttering from the crowd, now steering towards jubilant, but all Rose could feel was dread.
"It is a good trade," Hux said into the quiet of the room.
"I don't care!" Rose seethed.
After the meeting, D'Acy had escorted Captain Triss back to the Destroyer. Once everyone had dispersed, it was only Rose, Finn, Poe, and Hux left in the small conference room.
"It's a shit trade," she added, with heavy emphasis.
Hux drew his shoulders up. "Myself and a few others for the safety of the rest of my men?"
Rose growled. "Oh, so they're your men again, huh?"
Hux made a face, but looked away.
"Look, there's gonna be a tribunal," Finn said, trying to placate her. "They're not just going to throw them all in jail. There'll be witnesses; testimonials. He told us about Exegol, about Palpatine. And he gave us the intel on the weapons factories. Not to mention the mission with the Dreadnought. They can't ignore all that."
Poe was glaring at Hux like he'd prefer they skip right over to the jailing bit.
"I'm going to fight for you," Rose said, furious, like she dared Hux to try and deny her.
He gave her a defeated look.
"I assumed as much."
His tone made her anger flag. She was still indignant, but she was relieved to know he wasn't pushing her away.
She was still skeptical, though. "You'll let me? Speak on your behalf?"
"If that is what you wish," he said, brows pulling together. He looked genuinely moved by her passion.
Rose huffed. "Fine."
"Hey, Lieutenant General?"
A young engineer poked his head in through the doorway.
Rose turned.
"There's a hydrocooling transfuser I was told you could help me with?"
Begrudgingly, Rose moved toward the door with an annoyed sigh. "We're not done talking about this," she said, rounding on him before she left, waggling a finger in Hux's direction.
He stood with his usual formal air. "Of course."
She made a gruff sound, stomping off after the engineer.
Hux watched her go.
After a moment's pause, Poe spoke. "You don't honestly think the New Republic is going to give you clemency just because you were an informant."
Hux turned to look at Poe, who'd been exceptionally quiet the entire time.
He caught the man's eye.
"It is… unlikely," Hux agreed, with solemn resolve.
"When Rose says she's going to fight for you," Poe went on, "she means it."
Hux gave a tired laugh. "Undoubtedly. She's too much of a romantic."
"She's not the only one." Poe's stare was intense. "I find it hard to believe you're willing to simply waltz into the welcoming arms of the New Republic. They're going to arrest you the moment we're planetside. What's your game, Hugs?"
Hux drew in a slow breath. "For a very long time, I fought to survive. And the price, it seemed, was that everything I—" He faltered, swallowed, and drew himself up to regather his thoughts. "Everything I've ever loved ended up dead. Perhaps now I am simply content enough to let my fate play out."
"Yeah," Finn agreed, hands on his hips, nodding emphatically. "Trust in the Force."
Hux grimaced. "Not exactly the analogy I was going for."
"Force doesn't care," Finn said matter-of-factly, folding his arms across his chest. "Force does what it wants."
Hux smiled thinly. "I've noticed."
A/N- A huge thank you to the essential workers out there in this trying time! Local government workers, pharmacists, trash collectors, and of course everyone in all facets of the medial community! You guys are awesome!
Also, please check out NightInOurVeins on twitter! She's been doing some lovely gingerrose artwork; some even inspired by this story! I'm so incredibly humbled.
Thanks Brit & Dan for being amazing editors, as always.
