A Galaxy is Not Enough

CHAPTER 7

The Second Reception Part Two

When Hux returned from the bar with a full glass of some kind of brown liquid, he didn't look any calmer. He sat down stiffly and focused all his attention on the dish before him, though he barely touched the food.

Rey glanced at him, trying to determine what she ought to say. His mother was an odious woman, the kind of person Rey wished to smack in the face with her staff. But she couldn't, could she?

It was little wonder that a creature like that had spawned the smug Grand Marshal. But it was surprising that he had turned out to be far less cruel than his mother. Thoughtless, perhaps at times. Ambitious and cunning to be sure. But he wasn't unintentionally callous.

At least, Rey found no maliciousness in his words. Though he'd made careless statements, he hadn't been manipulative or hurtful. Not like his mother anyway. Perhaps she ought to give him another chance? Besides, he had put up with this woman for his entire life, and Rey felt the smallest bit of compassion for him for what he must've endured.

"Let's dance," she exclaimed suddenly, causing Hux to flinch.

"No, thank you," Hux replied gently, taking a shaky sip of his drink.

"Please," Rey whispered, reaching out tenderly, she took his hand. "I think we need a distraction."

He didn't let go of her hand, but he looked away from her. When he spoke, it was strained.

"I'm afraid I might be a bit too agitated to dance properly," he said. There was a twinge of embarrassment in his voice.

"It's alright," Rey declared, squeezing his hand lightly. "I'll help you. And besides, we can't let that awful woman think she won, can we?"

At that, Hux turned back to look at her, studying her face with confusion.

"You don't have to—"

"To what?" Rey asked. "Dance with my husband? I don't, you're right. But I want to."

His face softened, "as long as you're not just doing it out of pity."

Rey smiled, "I'm not. I'm doing it to get back at your mother."

He laughed. It was a small laugh, but it was a laugh all the same.

"Well, then," Hux said, sliding his chair back and rising to his feet. He held her hand the whole time.

Somehow her words had given him the strength to move without hesitation, and he led her to the dance floor.

The music was melodious and soothing as Hux pulled Rey against him, though he still didn't look directly at her. Instead, he fixated on everything around them, the officers and Generals, and decorations. Rey, on the other hand, wasn't able to look anywhere else but at her husband.

Even in heels, she wasn't tall enough to be eye-level with him. So, she stared up at him, noting his features were somewhat attractive in this light. His nose was straight and his cheekbones high and his lips. . . Her eyes rested on the thick lips for a moment before she looked back up at him and found he was staring down at her.

He shifted, awkwardly and swallowed, "thank you."

Rey nodded and smiled, "you're welcome."

They danced in silence, his hand gently resting against her lower back and her arm around his neck. Hux looked stoic and reserved as always, but his eyes began to fall upon her more and more frequently as they moved about the room.

They danced for one song, then another, and another, until Rey was out of breath and Hux only had eyes for her.

After the third song, they decided to get another drink, and Rey let Hux lead her to the bar and order for her, something dry and sour. She loved it, it made her feel light and energetic and less anxious.

A bit later, after three more drinks, Rey's head felt heavy, and she wanted nothing more than to return to their room and climb into the too-soft bed and curl up to sleep. But there were speeches and raised glasses and introductions to be made. Before she realized it, she had drunk two more full glasses of the alcoholic beverage, and things began to fuzz around the edges.

Hux introduced her over and over and over again. She began to tire of smiling and nodding and repeating her name. Some of the officers seemed kind and genuine towards her, while others eyed her warily and made her feel like the outsider that she was. One officer gave her a very pointed once over before he grinned. And the grin made Rey feel like she wanted to crawl under the table and hide.

That particular officer shook Hux's hand and clapped him on the back and then leaned in to whisper something in his ear. Hux choked on his drink and blushed furiously and turned to the next officer as quickly as he could.

The tall blue-skinned, red-eyed Chiss greeted Rey as well. He seemed fascinated that she was from Jakku and asked her so many questions that Hux had to cut in. The woman with the short-cropped hair wasn't far behind the Chiss, but she was short and to the point and moved along quickly.

Rey stifled a yawn, her legs ached, and her back hurt, and she wanted to get into bed. Finally, the line of officers dwindled down, and she was able to sit again.

She leaned back in her seat and wobbled a bit and almost missed the table when she went to set her glass down on it.

Hux gave her a look, one she almost might have interpreted as concern, but at the moment, she just thought he looked upset.

Handsome, but upset.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," she replied, letting the 'f' drag out slowly. Forming words was becoming difficult. She could barely keep her eyes open.

"You've had quite a bit to drink," he said, though it didn't sound like a judgment. More a statement of fact.

"Mhmm," she agreed. "I'm tired."

He nodded, "Just sit tight for a moment, could you? We can leave as soon as all the fan fair ends."

She sat patiently, head starting to ache a little. How many drinks had she had? It didn't matter. She rarely drank, so any amount might be too much.

As soon as all the speeches and drinks were finished, Hux rose and thanked the party planners. Then said something about taking his beautiful bride home. Rey didn't really listen. She couldn't, all she could think about was how sleepy she felt.

Finally, Hux reached for her and clutched her hand.

"Time to go," he said softly. "Let's get you to bed."

They'd barely moved before they were interrupted.

"Oh, Armitage," came the cold voice behind Hux. "Had to get her drunk, did you?" It was followed by an icy laugh.

Hux froze, cheeks heating. Rey frowned, Maratelle was back.

"It's alright, dear," Maratelle said to Rey. "I had to spend much of my marriage like that, drinking just to get through the terrible days and the even worse nights."

Rey stood, wobbly on her legs, but she still held Hux's hand firmly. She turned to Maratelle and snapped, "If I were you, I would've drank too. It would be the only way I could live with being such an awful person."

Hux's mouth fell open, and his wide eyes darted quickly between Rey and Maratelle.

Maratelle laughed again.

"You poor, sad little girl," she clucked, shaking her head. "I'd hate to be you tonight. Your husband had to get you drunk, so he could have his way with you."

Ice flooded Rey's veins, had Hux intended for her to drink this much? Was Maratelle right?

She shook her head, no, she'd been willing last night, if only to get it over with, and he had insisted that they wait. It was doubtful he would do such a despicable thing when she had offered it to him already.

She wanted Maratelle to leave Hux alone. What's more, she felt the strong urge to spit venom back at the terrible woman.

"He doesn't have to get me drunk," Rey bit back angrily, losing all capacity for embarrassment. "He's kind and handsome and caring, and he could have me whenever he wants! And it is a wonder he turned out so nice with such a cruel and horrible excuse for a mother!"

Stars, was she really going to defend Grand Marshall Armitage Hux to his own mother?

Hux gulped audibly and turned to Rey, his face flushed from the tips of his ears to his Adam's apple, "Rey, that's quite enough."

"Oh," Maratelle cut him off, "Armitage didn't tell you then?"

Rey looked around perplexed. "Tell me what?"

"I'm not his birth mother," Maratelle said with a smile. "He's a bastard. His father liked to roll around in the mud with poorly bred little girls just like you. Got one of them pregnant. I already told you, didn't I? The Hux men have a way of disappointing their wives."

Rey looked back to Hux, who wouldn't meet her eyes.

"Have a wonderful night," Maratelle continued. "And do be gentle with her Armitage, she's still just a little girl after all."

Hux led Rey back to their room in silence, staring straight ahead the whole time. He still wouldn't look at her, though he continued to support her on his arm the entire way.

Rey no longer felt drunk, the adrenaline of her encounter with Maratelle had left her wide awake.

Back in their quarters, Hux remained silent, and they didn't speak as they readied for bed. They cleaned their teeth and took turns in the fresher, and Rey felt terribly guilty for all the assumptions she'd made and unkind things she'd said to Hux.

It was apparent that Hux was embarrassed about being a bastard. But she didn't understand why. People on Jakku rarely married. They had children, yes, but marriage seemed like a frivolous thing. Why did there need to be a contract between two people who cared for each other?

Infidelity, however, was different. If there was a marriage contract and someone strayed outside the bonds of that commitment . . . She supposed she could sort of understand why Hux would be ashamed.

But then, none of that had been his fault. Rey sighed, trying to catch her husband's eye, but he dutifully continued to ignore her.

They settled into bed without speaking, and Hux turned off the lights. They sat in utter darkness for a heartbeat before Rey heard the sheets rustle and felt the covers pull back. The bed dipped, and she knew he'd gotten up.

"Are you alright?" She asked into the darkness.

There was a long silence before he answered. "I—I just need some water."

And then he was gone.

She waited for him to return to bed, she counted the tiled pattern of the ceiling over and over. But he didn't return.

She wasn't sure of the time when she finally decided to check on him. But she rose as quietly as she could and padded out into the hall to look for him.

He didn't see her as she peered around the corner.

Armitage Hux was seated at the table, his back to her. Rey felt something inside her tighten strangely as she looked at him, she could feel the emotions roiling around him, through him. They were like a burning fire inside him, raging around him. He'd always appeared so empty and devoid of emotion like he'd been holding all the feelings inside so tightly that they never came tumbling out.

But right now, he was feeling them. All of them. Hurt and guilt, and shame. Anger and sadness, and despair. It was so powerful Rey could barely breathe. Each and every separate emotion was so tangled, so twisted around the other that it would've been impossible for any normal person to separate them. Her heart thudded rapidly in her chest as she tried to breathe through the onslaught of sensations that flowed over her.

Hux was leaned forward in his seat, his face buried in his hands. He must push all these feelings to the side, she thought. When he's going about his day. It must be absolutely exhausting for him, keeping these things all pressed inside himself.

It was smart, too. No Force user was able to discern his thoughts and desires. He kept them so tightly bound inside himself.

There was a little noise, almost like a sob. Then he let out a shaky breath.

Rey swallowed, the lump in her throat so thick and painful it hurt. She couldn't. She couldn't kill him right now, not like this. Could she?