7. Dreams
Hux was glad that Ben started to tangle his hair like he did once. It looked manlier and gave the impression of being in control which the force user needed. He still didn't feel comfortable close to the redhead, but their relations changed for better. Since the incident with the chair Hux abandoned completely a group of his female admirers. Now he was hanging mostly with Phasma, much to fangirls' annoyance.
South wind brought cool weather and Ben had to endure it. He was used to warmer climate and it was his first true winter. He felt better inside, under the cosy blanket or near fireplace, than outside in a frosty air. He had the thickest scarf in whole Avlonee. Aunt Leia gave him warm gloves, but their sews cracked, when he curled his big hands in fists. He didn't tell her about it, because he didn't want to see her upset. He knew, she would go to town and buy him another pair, but now Skywalker family couldn't afford it. So he was hiding hands in his pockets. It wasn't that bad, at least until snow appears.
They were sitting again in their usual spots. Snoke went to his siblings in north, so now old nanny Maz was taking care of children. Miss Padme was practicing pronunciation with Rey while other teenagers learn fragments of poems by heart.
Ben stopped on some difficult word and couldn't skip that. He tried many times, but always found himself hanging above this part.
"Shall I read it for you?" Hux's voice was so tempting near his sensitive earlobe. Ben felt his warm breath on his own skin. The ginger whispered straight into his mind.
"Romeo: I dreamt a dream tonight.
Mercutio: And so did I.
Romeo: Well, what was yours?
Mercutio: That dreamers often lie.
Romeo: In bed asleep while they do dream things true."*
*A fragment of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare.
"Do you understand it now?" He asked, not moving even an inch.
"Yes, but… it wasn't the fragment I was reading…" Confused Ben managed to cough up, a little embarrassed.
"Armitage, if you have time for chatting, please, read out loud that dark poem about hunting." Miss Padme caught them talking.
Hux stood up and recited whole text. His strong, loud words filled all classroom. Of course, his admirers nearly died from hyperventilation. Ben didn't feel their strange connection any longer. This time he talked to everyone, not exclusively to him, so it wasn't… intimate. "His twisted jokes, what is the purpose of it?! Certainly he wants to mess with me again…" he thought while listening to the ginger.
"That's very impressive, I admit. You sure have excellent memory. You should be working at your voice, you have to use the soft tunes sometimes. Otherwise you sound like a commander on space ship giving orders to soldiers. Even if this role suits you. Ben, yours next."
Ben took his book. It looked so small in his big, trembling palms. He didn't like reading aloud. His voice was as deep as Hux, but also rougher and uneven. He still didn't remember whole text. He sighed and started reading. On the start it was uncomfortable, but he liked the poem, so after a while he declaimed it with passion.
The class was absolutely silent when he finished. Miss Padme was first to speak.
"I think, you surprised us all. You have great potential! I hope I see you in town hall next summer on Avlonee Talent Contest. We have to talk about it later indeed! Well, my dears… Who's next? Poe?"
Ben couldn't focus since he saw ginger's eyes filled with pure admiration. For once he didn't get any sharp comment, because Hux got a tongue-tide. Ben felt proud that he could beat Hux at something. That was very unusual.
8. Every cloud...
Winter attacked with full force. Snow was falling from the clouds so long that it reached level of people's knees. Road to town was hard now, so Ben had to wake up earlier. The droids looked like worms moving under snow.
At school yard his friends already started snow battle with other kids. It was really funny till some older boys joined. They used very hard snowballs, so younger kids went into the building with tears in their eyes. Poe and Finn didn't remain in debt, but three of their enemies, called Grievous, Jabba and Binks splitted off from the rest and hunted for Ben. They took him by his hood and drag him into large snow drift. They took away his hat and scarf. Those jerks put fists full of snow under his coat and on his hair, so he trembled and was all cold. Ben tried to struggle and fight back, but fat Jabba just sat on his back and it was a game over.
Rey noticed something was wrong, so she ran into the school, while Poe and Finn started aiming snowballs at the terrorist trio. Rey brought Hux and Phasma with her.
"Enough of that!" The general shouted and all of them fulfilled his order. "Jabba, get off him! And you two better get lost!"
Phasma helped Ben, who was freezing. Grievous didn't intend to stop and hit Ben in the cheek with another snowball. Ben went at him suddenly.
"You fucker." He threw him into the snow and sat astride him. His hand cold as ice reached for snow and shoved it straight into Grievous's face.
"Ben, stop it already!" Hux caught his arm not very gently and dragged him aside.
"Mind your own business!" Force user snapped.
The redhead said nothing, just gave him amused look and brushed snowflakes off Ben's coat.
"Where are your gloves?" he asked.
"I never have any!" Ben's impatience was very visible.
"Hux, I didn't know you like him so much!" Binks snickered.
"Is he in your type?" Jabba joined this mockery.
"Shut up, you jerk!" Finn and Poe moved closer to opponents with murderous glares. Ben budged, but the redhead inhibited him.
"Leave it." He warned the force user.
"Come on, General, he is cut out for teasing! Just look at him and that pouty mouth! Yuk!" Grievous pretended to throw up.
Ben was really angry and trembled with shame. He felt the grab of Hux's hand on his arm tightening. He looked, ashamed, into stormy blue eyes. There was an unexpected flash of fury in them.
"You know, when you link his moles you get the 'I'm a lame sissy' line? It's literally written on his face!" Grievous mocked and Jabba shrieked.
Ben's face went pale while Hux quickly turned around, approached Grievous and punched him hard in the guts. For a moment the other hunched. Jabba and Binks moved away. Shocked Ben grove into ground hoped it was over, but then Grievous roared and knocked Hux on snow. His red hair spilled on white cover. Phasma shouted. For a while he stayed under, but their positions changed dynamically. They furiously struggled into the snow. Hardly thirty second passed and Hux was sitting on top and sent his bare fist right in Grievous face. The blood stained the snow.
"You broke my nose!" Grievous yelled completely surrendered. The other two ran away. "I'll tell Snoke everything!" The injured boy threatened.
"Go ahead, you dick! I'm waiting!" Hux let him go, got some snow and attached it to the cut across his own brow arc.
Grievous walked away sobbing. Phas looked disgruntled.
"Hux…" Ben started reaching for him.
"It's alright." He pushed him away slightly.
"Uuuu-hu, you badass!" Rey clapped his back.
"Rey!" Phasma hissed.
"Yup, that was fast!" Poe grinned giving the blonde no support.
"You moron, he may be in trouble!" Finn shook his head.
"That wasn't necessary…" Ben said quietly.
"Don't worry." Hux waved his hand. "Somebody had to put him in his place anyway. He deserved it."
"But you didn't have to do it, especially not for my sake…!" Ben still felt ashamed of this whole situation.
Poe, Finn, Rey and Phasma suddenly were interested in snow, sky, their boots and even school's building. They started talking to each other and slowly walked towards entrance.
"Chill, Kylo." Hux rolled his eyes dismissively and fixed his hair. "Make yourself presentable before you enter the class."
He stomped quickly through the snow aware that his calm pose would be ruined if he stayed longer under Ben's uncertain gaze.
9. ...has a silver lining
The day before Christmas Eve was a deliberate time especially for students. In Avlonee it was an equivalent of St. Valentine's Day on other planets. Kids could give small presents to their favours. For certain persons it was very pleasurable day, so long as they were popular. For example Rey was showered with sweets from younger boys, because she was sweet herself and had a good relations with them. Best-friends-forever also could feel self-confident, because they simply were preparing gifts for each other. In this year self-made cards with various hearts were fashionable. So Hux's desk was literally flooded by paper-cuttings love-telegrams from his fangirls. They also argued with each other, which of them made better job, and betted, which of them will get something from Hux.
Ben wasn't that thrilled. He knew, he probably got nothing from no one, excluding exchanging chocolates with Rey obviously. He rather wasn't anybody's world, although most of classmates liked him. Of course he prepared something too, but now he felt stupid because of it. When he was making the gift, it seemed to be excellent idea. Now, in the class full of gossipers, there was no way, he could give that to anyone. He would rather die, than bear this humiliation. So he silently accepted, he won't do it and just waited for end of the lessons.
The event of the day was when Bob Fett took with him red box in diamond shape. Later the very same wrap appeared on Phasma's desk. She opened it and put the necklace with shining stone on her neck. Rey was so jealous and Bob glowed with pride.
The lessons that day were chaotic and based around love and love only, so Hux after rolling his eyes tenth time this day just went home before last bell. He waved to his very dissatisfied girls and marched toward gate. Miraculously Ben stood there and looked at droids defreezing hinges. When he found out that Hux was going to skip last lesson, he felt somehow disappointed. There wasn't anybody near, beside of them two. Ben, against his better judgement and his previous decision, stopped the redhead.
"Hux, can you take it?" He handed him two silver plates on chain.
"Dog tags?" The ginger eyed the gift. "For me?"
"Yup. Someone said you're going to join army after graduating..."
"I am indeed... You made it yourself?"
That was the question Ben wanted to avoid, but Hux was always detecting his blind spots.
"Yes." He admitted looking on everything but him.
"Cool. Thanks." Hux showed his toothy smile.
Ben was totally cooked. Hux walked away, but he turned back as he recalled himself about something.
"Ah, Kylo? Better go to the classroom and check your chair. Happy holidays!"
Ben's eyes followed him disappearing around the corner. He went back to the school little stunned. The classroom was empty, because all students still played outside. He looked at his seat.
There was a pair of fine gloves. They were big enough for Ben's hands.