It was another three weeks before Kylo had an excuse to see Hux again, unfortunately it had to be done with two other Knights of Ren, Hux had contacted them a couple of days ago saying he might have more information for them and since the rule was that no less than three Knights could meet with an informant about Snoke, Sam joined him again. Michael had other things to attend to, so they brought Javier instead this time. Kylo wasn't a fan of bringing Javier along, the Knight had a tendency to be over the top. He enjoyed partying a little too much for Kylo's comfort, especially considering the venue they were going too, however they didn't have much other choice, all the other Knights were busy. Deciding he couldn't do much about it now, Kylo instead focused his thoughts towards Hux, unable to ignore the flutter that rose in his chest when he thought about seeing the redhead.

The ride to the club was blissfully short this trip, and Kylo had to keep himself from running into the club, but even so his pace was a bit faster than usual. He ignored the comment about wanting to get laid that came from Javier, instead waving his way inside and sending the others for a booth while he searched the crowd for the familiar redhead. It didn't take long to find him, after so many nights of talking through the force, Hux's signature was as familiar as his own.

He was pleased when he followed Hux's signature to the stage. The other man had admitted the other night that he was at his happiest when he was on stage, he liked that he didn't have anyone touching him for a change, and he got to pick his own music, a real bonus he had said with a laugh. Kylo walked closer to the stage, smiling as he listened to the song playing over the speakers, and when Hux lifted his head, Kylo winked at him.

Hux couldn't stop the grin that spread over his face as he caught sight of Kylo. The man was dressed as dramatic as usual, head to toe in black, face framed with gorgeous dark hair. He struggled -and failed- at hiding his amusement at Kylo's actions. The man had had the audacity to wink at him, for gods sake! When the music ended Hux jumped gracefully down from the stage and sauntered up to the Knight.

"Enjoying the view?" He purred, purposefully rubbing up against the other man.

Kylo chuckled at his antics and then threw his head back and clutched at his chest, "of course I enjoy the view, you are a god among mere men!" He declared dramatically, "how I can stand in your presence and not perish is beyond me." When he sagged against Hux as though fainting, Hux was horrified to find a giggle escape him as he struggled to hold the larger man up.

"I can't be a very strong god if your crushing me!" He protested, still giggling like an idiot. "Stand up!"

"I'm trying!" Kylo protested weakly, peering up at Hux through his hair, "but your beauty disarms me."

"You are the most ridiculous thing in the galaxy!" Hux proclaimed, managing to push Kylo in the direction of the booth the other Knights were in.

Kylo just looked at Hux before whipping his head away dramatically. "I can't bear it! It's as if I am looking into the sun!"

"You are an absolute idiot!" Hux said, but he had finally managed to push Kylo most of the way to the booth, and the Knight seemed to take pity on his struggle, because he straightened up and gave Hux a dazzling grin, and then strode into the booth as if he hadn't just been acting like a dramatic maiden. Hux followed Kylo into the room, a smile still on his face, at least it was until he caught sight of the other two men that were waiting for them.

"Hux?" Javier said, immediately standing up from his spot on the couch and staring at the redhead.

Kylo whipped his head around as he watched Hux's face pale. "Hello, Sir." The soft, submissive voice sounded nothing like the Hux that Kylo had come to know.

Javier grinned darkly. "Come here." Hux walked forward, keeping his eyes down, hands clasped behind his back. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir." Hux replied, still in that unusually soft voice.

"I had no idea it was you we were meeting with, otherwise I would have brought more credits." Javier said, his eyes raking Hux's body appreciatively.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Kylo snarled, getting between Hux and the other Knight.

Javier actually laughed. "What's wrong with me? Why didn't you tell me we were meeting with the greatest cocksucker in the galaxy?"When Kylo lunged towards the other man, Sam all but tackled him.

Sam glared at Javier. "Would you shut up?"

"What?" Asked Javier, feigning innocence. "It's not like he's doing anything he doesn't want to. Isn't that right, Hux?"

"Yes, Sir." Hux replied, voice small.

"You would suck me off right now if I let you, isn't that right?" Javier was too busy sneering at Hux to notice Kylo pushing Sam aside.

"Yes, Sir."

Javier smiled darkly. "Then get on your knees for me."

Hux dropped obediently to his knees and awaited further orders. When there was a longer silence than usual, he risked looking up, and then frowned. Javier was standing with his hands clutching his throat, face turning blue as he struggled. Startled, Hux looked around and saw Kylo standing with his hand outstretched, eyes blazing with fury as he slowly walked towards Javier.

"Kylo, your going to kill him!" Sam hissed, trying to break the other mans concentration, to no avail.

Instead Kylo kept those menacing eyes fixed on Javier as he moved forward. "You will apologize to Hux. You will show him nothing but respect. You will not touch him again. If you do, if you even think about touching him, I will kill you myself." With that Kylo lifted his hand, letting Javier fall back to the floor, coughing harshly and trying desperately to pull air into his lungs.

Ignoring the other mans struggles, Kylo walked over to where Hux was still kneeling and held his hand out, helping the other man to his feet. He tilted Hux's head up so he could look into his eyes, and then frowned when he was met with a glare. "What's wrong?"

"That wasn't necessary." Hux whispered angrily.

Kylo stared at him in shock for a minute. "Are you serious?" When Hux stubbornly refused to respond Kylo let out a harsh laugh. "Like hell it wasn't necessary! If I hadn't stopped him, you'd be on your knees sucking him off right now!"

"So?" Hux hissed.

"What the fuck do you mean, so?" Kylo demanded.

"So what?" Hux ran his hands through his hair in frustration. "What do you think I do when your not here? You keep forgetting that I'm a fucking pleasure slave, so sucking dick really isn't a big deal to me anymore." Hux began to pace, his eyes flashing. "You come in here and act like you're saving me, but the truth is, when you leave I go right back to what I was doing before you waltzed in." He stopped in front of Ren, chest heaving. "So stop trying to play the fucking hero. You're here because I have information and you have drugs, that's it!"

"Shut up!" Kylo shouted, fury rising in him.

For a moment Hux froze at the order, but then years of harsh training kicked in and he ducked his head respectfully and then murmured, "Yes, Sir."

"That's not funny." When Hux didn't respond Kylo rolled his eyes, "So now you aren't talking to me?"

"What would you like me to say, Sir?" Hux responded, voice devoid of emotion. He wondered absently what Kylo would do to him, the man clearly had a lot of anger and Hux knew he was an easy target.

"Fuck this." Kylo snapped, striding towards to exit. He turned and faced Sam, "give him the fucking drugs and get the information, I'll be outside."

"Wait Ben-" Kylo didn't bother to listen to the rest of what Sam was trying to say, instead he stormed outside, his thoughts whirling.

He couldn't understand Hux, how could he let himself be abused like this? Kylo had offered him a way out, was willing to fight for him, and instead Hux defends those who would abuse him? It made no fucking sense, and he was tired of trying to figure out the other man. He continued pacing until he felt a softening in his tie to Hux, knowing immediately that the coke they had brought had reached the other mans system. Another wave of fury rolled over him as he felt their unusual bond, at least until he felt the despair coming through from the other side. Without meaning to, Kylo let his mind drift over to Hux's, gently touching the other man's mind with his own.

The main emotion in Hux's mind, Kylo discovered, was fear. Despite the brave face he put on, he was scared on an almost constant level. He was afraid his Master would discover what he was really doing with the Knights and punish him. He was afraid that his next client would abuse him. He was afraid that he would stop being desirable and be sent to a private home. Over all those fears though was the fear of Kylo himself.

He was terrified of Kylo. He was terrified that Kylo would come storming back in and demand to be serviced, but even more, he was terrified that Kylo wouldn't come back at all, that he had lost someone who had quickly become important to him by not knowing how to behave properly. His Masters always said he was difficult, and Kylo had obviously come to the same conclusion, and as hard as he had tried to deny it, he had come to crave their nightly talks. He craved hearing Kylo's impossible stories, and he craved the illusion of friendship Kylo had created. He knew it was fake, that no one would actually want to be his friend, but even so, he had begun to cherish the lie. It was nice to feel normal for once, or as normal as a slave could be.

With a wrench of his mind, Kylo pulled free, his face pale. He had been so selfish, so angry at Hux for reacting the way he had been taught to. Kylo lowered his head into his hands, ashamed at the way he had acted. While he had been so busy trying to remind Hux he was a victim, he had at times forgotten it himself. His closeness and ease with the other man had made it entirely too easy to forget that Hux had grown up in a brutal enviornment, that he might respond in unusual ways because of this. Cursing himself, Kylo went back inside, stopping at the front desk for a moment before heading back to the booth the others were still in.

He swept aside the curtain and felt a pain in his chest at the half fearful, half hopeful look Hux shot him. "Leave us." He ordered the others, his eyes not leaving Hux's. The other two hurried to do as bid, but Kylo grabbed Javier's arm roughly before he could leave. "Did you apologize?" He asked dangerously.

"Yes, I-I apologized." Javier said, fear clear in his eyes. Kylo's answer was to shove him out of the booth.

When they were alone, Hux dropped his gaze. "What can I do for you, Sir?"

"I'm sorry, Hux." Kylo said softly. "I shouldn't have gotten upset with you, that wasn't fair of me." Hux peeked up at him, eyes wary. "I have grown to think of you as a friend, and I am very protective of my friends." Kylo admitted. "I understand if you want me to leave, if you don't want to talk to me anymore, but I am sorry and if you give me another chance I will do my best to be better."

Kylo gave Hux a minute, and when he didn't say anything Kylo knew that was his answer, he had blown this. He stood on trembling legs and found he couldn't meet Hux's gaze. "I'm sorry for the pain I've caused you, I'll be on my way." He began to leave and then paused. "Oh, I paid for your -services- for the rest of the night, so you have the rest of the evening off. Goodbye, Hux."

He was almost out of the booth when Hux called out, "wait!" He paused, waiting as Hux walked up to him. "You paid for my service, so why would you leave?"

Kylo smiled at him softly, "you were right when you said when I left you had to go back to work. I figured this could be my way of taking care of you even when I'm gone."

Hux looked confused, "but what do you get out of it?"

"Knowing that you are safe is plenty, Hux." Kylo said quietly. "Like I said, I'm protective of my friends."

"I've never really had a friend before." Hux admitted.

"Well, I'd like to be yours, if you'll have me." The humble look in Kylo's eyes spoke the sincerity of his words, and Hux felt himself softening towards the other man.

"Friends." He said, testing the word out, before looking up at Kylo with a shy smile. "If you paid for the night, are you able to stay? As my friend?"

"Is that something you would be comfortable with?" Kylo asked.

"I think so, yes."

"Then yes, I can stay." Kylo said, a grin spreading across his face. "Oh, and I paid extra so no one would disturb this room, so you can just relax." He said when he saw Hux's uncertainty.

"Ok, so now what?" Hux asked, not knowing what it was friends did when they were in a room alone together.

"So, did I ever tell you about the time my Dad tricked me into believing that I had stolen a treasure from pirates?" Kylo asked, and then launched into a story full of humor and bravery, acting like he didn't notice when Hux gradually moved closer to him on the couch, until he finally fell asleep with his head on Kylo's shoulder. Kylo couldn't remember a night in his life that was better than this one.

To be continued...