"Kylo."

The queen ignored the man behind him.

He was, after all, quite busy.

He was talking rapidly between two different languages to five different people, none of whom were seated, though they were in a conference room. They were standing calmly in a group, speaking in respectful tones, something Hux had never seen before.

If one stood while in a political discussion, it meant violence; an angry threat.

Speaking of Hux, he was standing just inside the doorway, regretting everything leading up to this with every fiber of his being.

He was struggling to hold a huge vase filled with the most exotic and colorful plants he could find that weren't lethal, and he was fairly certain he was allergic to the glowing blue one. He had tried to just have someone deliver them to the Queen's residence within his council for him, but they were returned with a note in Leia Organa's handwriting: that's not how it works.

Hux sniffled, adjusting the vase so it wasn't cutting into his hip. He tried to schedule a separate meeting with the queen, but his schedule was even more packed than Hux's.

Aren't we engaged, now? Hux thought. Shouldn't we actually make time for one another, even if just for show?

Very abruptly, Kylo Amidala paused in the middle of a thought, a language Hux didn't understand falling silent on his tongue.

He turned to face Hux, and as soon as he did, it was like a blanket was pulled over his thoughts. Everything he had planned to say went fuzzy. He could only stare blankly at Kylo, who had one hand resting against his collarbone, standing straight and blinking lazily, innocently confused.

"Emperor...you are...here. Unannounced..?"

Hux watched Kylo's eyes flit over to a droid standing at the door, one that must have been meant to keep people out.

"I don't have very much time, I'm afraid. I-"

Kylo seemed to finally take in the huge plants in Hux's arms. His lower lip fell open slightly, and his eyebrows pulled his makeup up towards his hair.

Hux couldn't think professionally.

Kylo was wearing a deep, calming purple, a robe that had a tight and high collar holding his neck the way Hux could only dream of holding, with a single white opal on a necklace against his chest.

One of the ambassadors behind Kylo leaned forward slowly, mouth open in the beginning of a laugh.

Hux was suddenly dizzy; it felt like his thoughts were swimming through themselves, and, oh Maker, was he actually blushing?!

He needed to get out of there.

"I-I got these for you."

He barely stammered out, shoving the flowers towards Kylo. He used the giant petals to hide his face, but peeked through them to watch the queen nervously.

There was a shockingly gentle smile on his face, brown eyes soft as they regarded the gift.

Suddenly, knowingly, Kylo's eyes met Hux's through the plants. The soft smile hardened into a blank, proper stare, and Kylo reached out and took the vase daintily.

His fingertips ran over Hux's gloves before taking the gift, and placing it on the table.

Hux stared in shock, hands still out, sniffing.

"I am so very sorry, Emperor," Kylo lilted, his tone velvety, "but I cannot accept such a gift as this."

"What? Why?"

Kylo cast his eyes lazily to the flowers.

"I am allergic to at least three of the plants in that bouquet."

The man who had bent around Kylo began to laugh, slapping the queen's shoulder.

Kylo reacted violently.

He spun about and his hand immediately locked over the man's bicep, the other hand somewhere near his own waist, an absolutely lethal look in his eyes, before his face relaxed suddenly.

Kylo gave a quiet breath of shock at himself, letting go of the man. He took a step back, and then another, and backed all the way into Hux before turning around again.

He became confused, sort of sheepish, and carefully regarded the room.

"I-I am sorry. I…"

"Do not apologize, Queen. It was entirely my fault."

The man bowed deeply, still shaken.

Kylo looked from Hux to the other dignitaries he was with. He shook himself carefully, smoothed a hand over his hair, and when he straightened again, he seemed as bored and unaffected as ever.

He turned on his heel, and left without another word.

Hux closed his mouth, unaware that it was open, and forced his hands to move.

He lifted the plants again, and while staring at the group of dignitaries he didn't recognize, followed Kylo out of the room.

Kylo was already gone-Hux knew he would be.

He dumped the plants into the nearest receptacle and pulled the small notebook out of his pocket.

1: Exotic Plants

He scratched it out violently.