Hux watched Kylo's face as he read that same document from the opposite end of a discussion table, four days later. Why did he feel so smug at the look of offense on Kylo's face as he reached what Hux considered to be the most important part?
"You would hope to unify our powers with a...marriage?"
"Is that not...is that not customary?"
The First Order's mediator looked to Hux nervously before responding.
"...Not often. It used to be quite common, but we've since advanced to other techniques."
"So you won't sign the treaty due to the marriage?"
Kylo lifted his eyes as Hux spoke, hiding his interest poorly.
"Who is it between?"
Senator Organa stood behind her son, a strong woman who had, up until then, remained quiet.
"The highest ranks of both governing bodies, ma'am."
"So you want to marry my son." Organa said, her hand moving to her son's shoulder.
"Mother…"
"No! I won't have this, Ben, I won't let you sell your life away for politics."
"Mother, we can no longer afford for anyone to do what you did."
Leia Organa tightened her lips, looking down at Kylo.
Hux was looking at Kylo, too; both mediators, and all the press, were looking at him. The entire room seemed to have its eyes trained on the Queen.
Kylo lowered his head slightly, lazily looking back to the document. He was sitting primly, legs crossed at his ankles, his robe black as the night. His makeup was the same as the first time Hux had met him, but his hair was loose, wild and still beautiful in an untamed way, with a gold crown to top it. He had a cowl wrapped all around his neck, too, covering everything under his chin. He sighed softly, closing his eyes lazily, and Hux felt something horrible in his chest that made him want to cough. It felt like a tickling, like his heart was having palpitations.
Kylo brushed a lock of his hair aside as he opened his eyes again, and as he dropped his hand to his neck, exposed part of it.
A bruise, purple and sore, rested along his pale skin in a round shape.
Hux stared at it blatantly. Kylo said something; Hux didn't hear it. Kylo looked up at the mediator, eyes bored.
"Emperor?"
"Er, I-"
Kylo gave quiet huff of a laugh. He pulled his cowl against his neck again.
"I asked if you intended to maintain separation of powers after such a unification, Emperor."
The way Kylo said Emperor had chills running down Hux's back.
"...That would depend on the desires of the Republic, your Majesty. The First Order has strength over its affairs and seeks only an alliance, at the absolute lowest, but a complete unification of the two bodies could be quite beneficial."
"It sounds to me like you are not sure exactly what you want, Emperor."
Kylo said, his voice a quiet hum.
Hux knew exactly what he wanted; he was staring at him from across the table. From the first time Kylo had looked at him with that confused pout, hurt, makeup smeared, he had been driven mad with the concept that he had brashly destroyed yet another possibly gentle relationship, lost another potential friend. His determination to get close to the beautiful storm of a man in spite of his abusive first impression was pushing him to madness.
He wanted Kylo Amidala; at his side, under him, in his mind, in his clothes, in his bed, in his lap, in his life. He wanted Kylo Amidala.
His train of thought had run into absolute shambles when Kylo looked up at him again. Even through his makeup, Hux saw something, and he wondered if there was a flush on Kylo's cheeks. He couldn't imagine why there would be.
Kylo looked back down quickly, flicking past the proposal and continuing to read the remainder of the treaty without giving a response.
How political of him.
Senator Organa stepped forward as Kylo continued to read, her eyes sharp, clever.
She sat at her son's left, and turned to Hux.
"So, you're the one who wants to marry my son?"
"Mother…"
"Yes. I am the highest power in the First Order, and it seemed only fitting to unify our governing bodies from, well, from the top down."
Hux responded directly, just as Senator Organa had, ignoring his mediator though he would later be furious at the lack of respect.
"What are your intentions with my son? I know very openly of your intentions with the government; that's for Ben to work out with you. Your intentions with my child, however, are my direct interest."
"Mother!"
Kylo jerked his head up, eyes wide. Was he embarrassed, or angry?
Hux swallowed carefully. The Senator stared him down calmly. He needed to choose his words wisely, from here on.
"I must admit, I had no plans to form my own Union, but…"
Kylo was watching Hux from behind his mother, though he seemed only slightly interested. His eyes flicked down over Hux's uniform, and Hux drew a blank on anything political.
"...I intend to respect any union made between our governing bodies. Be it mine, your son's, both of ours, or neither, I intend to uphold respect for it. Should you accept our treaty, and should your son and I be wed, I would intend only to uphold those wedding vows."
It wasn't good enough. Hux could see it on the Senator's face; she was unimpressed.
Kylo turned the last page of the treaty as his mother placed her hands on the table and cleared her throat.
"Well, Emperor, I have to say that-"
"-I accept."
""What?""
Senator Organa and Emperor Hux turned in unison, shocked.
Kylo was shaking a hand through his hair, seemingly bored. He turned the treaty back to its front page, and pushed it towards the center of the table.
"I accept the terms of this treaty; in the name of peace, the Republic will accept these measures of avoiding war. You may trade with our planets; you may travel freely through our systems; we may monitor your actions; we may end our agreement at any time. I accept these conditions, and the rest included."
Kylo extended a hand, the same marble-sculpted expression of half-interest on his face. His mediator, who had been largely ignored, placed a pen in his hand, and Kylo signed the treaty with a flourish of red ink.
His mother was sitting dumbfounded, her mouth slightly open, hands limp on the table.
"Ben-you know that-"'
"-Of course I know. For the peace of our people, I think I can stand to be married. Wouldn't you agree, Hux?"
The edges of Kylo's mouth twisted. Was it a sneer or a smile?
Hux wouldn't find out.
Kylo glanced at the clock on the wall, and stiffened. "Well, it seems the time we have allotted for this appointment is over. Send the treaty through the Senate; have them know that I agree to and accept it. Once they have given their vote, we shall see about the rest."
He directed the last few sentences to the mediator, who nodded swiftly and gathered the treaty and disappeared with it through a side door.
Kylo did not bow as he stood lithely. He did not say anything; he turned, and walked out, his footsteps echoing back into the room.
Hux sat motionless. Leia slowly placed her hands together, closed her mouth, and turned to Hux.
"So, Emperor Hux. You and I have something very important to discuss, now."
"I...Do we?"
Hux managed to retain his respect through his surprise.
"Likely the most important discussion of your life, sir."
Senator Organa leaned back in her seat, wise eyes sharp and narrow.
"May I ask what, exactly, we will discuss?"
"We are going to talk about your future courtship with my son."