They finally have contact!

The ice skating rink was decently packed; groups of friends, families with smaller children, and a few couples. Their own group stood in line and rented their skates. Hux tried not to wrinkle his nose.

Hope you've got thick socks.

Hux narrowed his eyes but put his skates on his feet all the same. Dopheld patted Hux's arm and leaned against him when he stood up.

"Don't let me fall okay," he asked with a small smile, "I don't want to embarrass myself in front of all these people."

"Neither do I."

Fear, not Armie, with me, you're sure to look perfectly chill.

Hux still didn't know exactly what being 'chill' meant, but he figured that it would only make sense once he's actually achieved it. He glanced over at Finn, Rey, and Rose, who were laughing and chatting about something.

'You know how to skate, right?'

How dare you. Kylo narrowed its eyes at him. I'm a supercomputer, of course, I can ice skate!

The group headed out onto the ice, and Dopheld, Rey, and Finn almost nearly fell right on their bottoms. Dopheld grabbed onto Hux's arm to steady himself while Finn and Rey grabbed onto each other, which didn't seem too steady.

"This is going to be tougher than I thought," Rose muttered as she skated passed them. She took Rey and Finn's hands and slowly started to pull them along.

Hux held in a sigh and placed a hand on Dopheld's back. "Can you stand?"

"Yes, sorry," he said, "I didn't think I would immediately slip like that..."

Well, don't worry, we'll go slow.

"We'll go slowly," Hux said, and then he let Kylo take over to guide them around the rink.

Are you paying attention?

'Paying attention to what exactly?'

Kylo was moving alongside him and Dopheld. As if to show off, it was moving backward with its arms folded.

The rink.

'Why, are you going to stop skating for me?'

It shook its head and motioned to the rink.

Look, this is, essentially, your first time hanging out with Finn. It explained. And what is he doing right now?

'Um...I don't-'

Exactly! Kylo cut in. Listen, something is going to happen in about...ten or so minutes. That's going to be your window, and you don't even know where Finn is. What if he left?

'He left!?' Hux thought as he continued guiding Dopheld around.

No, but you don't know if he could have...so pay a bit more attention. Now, Finn is sitting down for the moment. Kylo motioned. It looks like Rose can't help both Finn and Rey at the same time. Be ready to step in.

Hux glanced over his shoulder for only a moment in the direction that Kylo had pointed, and he could see Finn sitting by himself.

'Okay...I see him. But how can I step in? I'm with Dopheld.'

Give it time...about five more minutes. You'll know what to do.

Hux wasn't sure what Kylo could be talking about; what could it know that Hux himself didn't? Yes, Kylo was a supercomputer, but it couldn't affect anything in the physical world, at least not without the use of Hux's body. Was it going to make Hux trip Dopheld? How would that help him win Finn's affections?

'Kylo-'

Before he could voice his concern about whatever the plan was, someone came out of nowhere and crashed into them. Well, they crashed mostly into Dopheld, who smashed into Hux, but it wasn't nearly as bad for him. Both the stranger and Dopheld fell onto the ice with the voices of random people calling out, moving out of the way, and winching.

"Hey, are you guys okay!?"

Rose and Rey made their way over to them while Hux knelt down to check on Dopheld. The stranger was being helped by various others.

"Can you stand up?" Hux asked.

Dopheld winched a bit but nodded. "Yeah...I think so."

Dopheld assured Rey and Rose that he would be okay and that they could finish skating. Hux helped him off of the ice, and they sat down on the bench next to Finn.

"That was a really nasty fall," Finn said, concern on his face.

"People should pay more attention to where they're going."

"You're ankle isn't twisted or anything?" Finn asked, "Or you didn't get cut by a skate or something?"

Dopheld waved a hand. "No, no...I'm fine. Mostly just shaken up, I guess. I think I need to sit down for a while."

Hux hummed, so this must be the opportunity Kylo had been talking about. How did it know that Dopheld would be in an accident?

I didn't really.

'What?'

I didn't know he would be in an accident.

Before Hux could question the computer, he noticed Dopheld checking his phone. He looked concerned.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked.

Dopheld nodded. "Oh...yes, my mother has just been trying to get in contact with me...I guess I put my phone on silent instead of vibrate..." he trailed off and scrolled through his phone for a bit. "I...I think I need to go home. I don't want her any madder at me."

"Aw," Finn said.

Hux simply frowned; would he have to leave with Dopheld?

"You can stay if you want."

Hux blinked in surprise. "Excuse me?"

Dopheld smiled at him. "I don't want you to stop having fun just because of me..." he said softly, "you don't have to walk me home each and every time."

"Oh well if-"

But I like walking you home, Dopheld. Kylo cut in. Don't sound so eager to ditch him.

'I do not sound eager," Hux thought angrily. "...I do like walking you home, Dopheld. I wouldn't mind."

Dopheld smiled at that, and Hux was sure he was blushing. "That's very sweet of you, Armitage. But really, it's fine. I'll see you later." He paused, just for a moment before he leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to Hux's cheek. "Bye..."

Hux tried to remain calm.

Just relax, it'll be fine.

"That was cute," Finn said after Dopheld headed out and gave Hux a sly look.

If Hux could strangle a computer, he would have right then.

"I've...never really been called cute before," Hux mumbled.

Finn laughed at that. Not out of mockery or anything like that. It seemed more like a laugh of surprise. Hux watched as Finn scratched the back of his head.

Ask him to skate.

'What?'

Ask him to skate, Kylo repeated. C'mon, you were doing so well.

'You were doing most of the work for me,' Hux pointed out. "Well, Finn...would you like to skate with me?"

Finn looked out over the ice and then down at his skates. "I'm not too good at it though...Rose said she'd teach Rey and me but...I guess it's hard to teach two people at the same time."

Hux glanced over to where Kylo effectively stood, and the computer motioned toward Finn. "Um...well, I could teach you since she's busy."

Finn hummed like he was thinking it over and then smiled. "Okay. But you have to help me back over to the rink. I'm really wobbly on these."

"No problem...I've got you." Hux reached out a hand, and Finn took it.

Hux was surprised at how soft Finn's skin felt. Finn leaned against him as they made their way back over toward the skating rink.

'I still want an explanation for what happened with and if you can predict anything else.'

I can't predict things, but I'll explain it to you after your date.

Hux couldn't hide his smile.