Chapter 7: Graduation

Author's note: This is a new chapter which I felt tied up later things a little better. The restaurant Avin goes to is based on Hakkasan in Mayfair and her walk through the streets of Naboo is inspired by the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. The greatest fantasy of this whole story is Avin finishing a PhD on schedule, believe me.

"I heard someone graduating today was a Palpatine" a young woman in ceremonial robes whispered to another as they swished by. "How they would have the audacity to show their face here-"

Avin turned away. She was used to this kind of chatter but just didn't want to hear it today. As tensions ran ever higher in the Cold War between the First Order and the New Republic Avin had stepped away from diplomatic work after a few choice words from her father due to her family history, particularly after the scandal of Senator Organa's family history some years ago. While disappointed, she simply re-focussed on her studies on political science and military history. Caoihin's odd looks had finally capitulated into a huge revelation to her soon after her broken engagement. Caoihin's family had somehow held onto Palpatine's archives as the Emperor had used genetic coding for access. This pulled Avin into incredibly world of knowledge including military tactics, space navigation and Sith Tradition. She had moved past typical university studies in her teens, having surpassed her peers several years ago and went directly for postgraduate study, delving deep into the huge archival resources at her disposal for a final doctoral project on the Empire. This work satisfied her family ties and alarmed all but the most open-minded in her department. Nevertheless, she was a rising academic star at Naboo University and her easy manner seemed to smooth ideological tensions into genuine curiosity. Avin was interested in the historical facts rather than painting a flattering or unflattering picture of the Empire and her final dissertation was, she hoped, a clear and concise account of a galactic war.

On this Spring morning, she wore a beautiful purple silk gown underneath her formal brown robes for her graduation ceremony and her hair was piled on top of her head and secured by a very delicate diadem. She knew she looked beautiful today, in her own way. She also knew that she was far younger than all other PhD graduates from her University department.

"My baby, a doctorate at 23!" her father sniffled, dipping his balding head towards her. Her mother, her greying hair artfully tucked into updo, was on the other side of her, fussing over robes and pulling her coloured collar back and forth. The ceremony would start shortly and so her parents had gotten in some last-minute fawning before she would sit on the stage as a member of the academic elite for the first time.

A loud clearing of throat that she recognised immediately sounded behind her. There Armitage Hux was, in plain clothes, standing awkwardly to the side of the Graduation Hall apex. Avin had never seen him in anything but military grey and severe black, so to see him in typical Naboo-style periwinkle blue robes was frankly bizarre. Her parents looked aghast, like they were seeing a ghost. Considering his look, the pallid white of continuous space travel, gaunt face and severe sideburns he did look distinctly ghostly. He knew she had been graduating but she had not invited him. Colonels of the First Order typically have more important business to attend to then graduation ceremonies. Armitage had been there with her the whole way through the gruelling years of research for this project, pushing her to continue when she was sick of re-writes and research dead ends. It had been four years since they had last been in the same room together and while other friendships had faded away theirs had become stronger through inter-planetary communication. It helped that they were both obsessed with their work.

"Armitage!" she shouted, picking up the edge of her robe to run towards him. While he stood awkwardly, he was actually smiling as she made her way to him. She had no idea how to greet him after their last meeting and her heart was hammering in her chest as she stood in front of him. Without warning she pulled him into a hug, wrapping her arms around his slight waist and laying her head on his chest. Slowly, his arms came up to circle her very gently as if she might break. After a moment they disentangled and Avin beamed up into his face.

She turned and walked with him to her parents.

"Lord and Lady Shuah." He said stiffly.

"Colonel Hux." Her father said, falling into his old business persona of politeness "What a pleasant surprise. Are you here to wish Avin congratulations?"

"I'm here for the ceremony." He said curtly, pulling his arms behind his back in a now very familiar pose. Her parent's eyebrows had both risen higher than she thought possible, until comprehension dawned on their faces.

"Ah." Her father sat, blustering with how to save the situation. "We are bringing Avin for dinner afterwards, will you be joining us?"

Hux looked to Avin who nodded imperceptibly before he turned back to her father.

"Yes, I will."

A call rang out in the hall to signal the beginning of the ceremony, Avin needed to go. She looked around at the three of them, all painfully awkward, and turned away.

"Oh Avin." Her mother whispered as she passed by her, the intense disappointment in her voice cutting through Avin deeply.

The ceremony was short but beautiful and she bounded down the steps to her parents and the slight figure of Hux as soon as she could. They spent some time doing professional holoportraits with Avin still in her gown. She had to stifle a giggle when the photographer asked Armitage to stand with Avin in one photo, rightly assuming they were together. Armitage trying and failing to not make a First Order pose in his pale blue, inoffensive robes was one of the funniest things she had seen in a long time. Once the typical Graduation work was done, they left for dinner.

Her parents had already booked private dining at a famous Coruscant restaurant in the capital. They walked down a rather ugly alleyway with only the scent of very expensive incense guiding them to the door they needed to find. Highly ornate golden doors led down to a dark minimalist stairway with cascading waterfalls guiding their way. Inside, the private dining area was cut off from the other wealthy diners by dark wooden panelling in extremely complex shapes. Thick slabs of dark marble were etched into the wall, shining back against the immaculately polish floor below. Armitage looked around before sitting down with a mute expression.

After they ordered, he carefully reached out underneath the table and interlinked fingers with her, his thumb rubbing gently against hers in a movement that made Avin's insides flutter. Avin almost regretted the food coming to the table as they had to stop holding hands.

"So, what ship are you now on again, Colonel Hux?" her father asked casually as they sat down to their private dining.

"The Mordant." He said in the same clipped manner as he spoken earlier.

"And who are you working under?" her father continued, stubbornly maintaining polite conversation.

"Admiral Rae Sloane." He spoke again, with a gentler inflexion. She had heard everything about Admiral Sloane from him over the years, particularly her early intervention of his father's way of raising his son. She was the only reason Armitage had ever been to Port Tarkin, had ever been treated like a proper member of the Hux family. There was a silence for some moments between them all.

"Where is your friend Korellia?" Armitage asked hesitantly, as if uncomfortable knowing such personal information outside of their holocalls. Her parents both looked down at their plates at the question. This was a very sore subject for Avin, which she had not broached with him for very obvious reasons.

"Korellia joined the resistance." She said, sadly. "We… we couldn't stay in contact after that." Her parents knew how painful this admission was for her, as she had lost such a good friend so suddenly. The server droid returned carrying plates of steaming dumplings, Avin's favourite Coruscant cuisine, to place on the table.

"So, Colonel Hux. How is your family?" her father said, not unkindly as their server droid left the table.

"Still alive." He said, dismissively and both of Avin's parents looked sharply at him. He capitulated under their stares. "My father has been leading the Stormtrooper project since the destruction of Arkanis Academy and it is going very well. I don't know where my father's wife is currently."

"Armitage is doing great work on the Mordant." Avin intervened, as her parents looked scandalised by Armitage's coldness. "He has been continuing his father's work as well as a larger project for the Supreme Leader."

"Oh, and what is this project, Colonel Hux?" her mother asked politely, all thoughts of her dinner forgotten.

"Classified." He said crisply as he deftly cut a piece of water chestnut and popped it in his mouth. Avin flushed on her parent's behalf. Where had any normal human communication disappeared to with him? He had always been chatty and relaxed on their calls, leaning with chin propped up on the desk in his quarters as she regaled him on poor archival management and new restaurants she had tried. She felt his hand reach back down under the table and squeeze hers tightly. He was nervous.

Dinner passed in relative silence from then on, with the odd passing remark on the flavour of the food and glass refills. Avin couldn't wait for dessert to arrive. Once all the plates were cleared and caff had been served, the table looked at each other. "Armitage and I are going to go for a walk." She said, dispelling the tension in the room as quickly as possible. Without another word they turned and left her parents.

They walked in silence for a few minutes in the warm air of the upper city circle, passing through cobbled streets and low terracing where fragrant flowers wrapped around posts and rails. The buildings of the street seemed to lean in together, giving the street an enclosed intimacy. Street performers were singing traditional songs on the street corners as the sun was setting in the distance. It was a perfect night for a romantic walk, she thought, as she looked at Armitage's pallid complexion out of the corner of her eye.

She had been walking with little intent but still managed to walk to her own apartment building, a spacious flat on the top floor she had previously shared with Korellia for many years. Even with their awkward chatter, she was still feeling very excited and had become increasingly wet as they moved closer to her home. This was the first time they were together on their own terms, with no parents intruding. They stood outside the huge wood panelled doors of the building and stared at each other. In the moonlight, Armitage's face was the same silver grey it had been on the sand dunes of Phelarion. His face was carefully blank as it had been for most of the evening, but that changed as they stood outside as his gaze grew darker and lingered on her shoulders and chest. She turned and pushed the heavy door open.

"Come in." she whispered, looking over her shoulder at his expectant face. They made it to the second stair landing before he grabbed her by the arms and pushed her back against the cold marble tiling of the wall. His mouth was on hers immediately, his tongue snaking into her mouth. He had her firmly pressed up against the wall and she could feel his lean frame and growing erection. Making a decision she slipped free of him and grabbed his hand as they ran up the stairs. She fumbled with her key card from her silk clutch as he ran his hands up and down her backside in anticipation. Their shoes clicked on the tiled marble floors of the hallway as she brought them inside, pulling him down the hall to the main social space with its high ceilings and softly lit corners. She was proud of her home and wanted to show him even while thinking primarily of her bedroom. She didn't want to rush this after waiting so long. They just about made it to the sitting room before he was on her again, cupping her breasts through the light silk fabric. She wrestled the first layer of blue robes off him quickly as he licked and nibbled at her neck. He began panting in her ear as he pushed her back into the wall, pinning her legs apart with his own as he rubbed himself against her core. Like the last time they were together, she pushed him back, leading him to the sofa so she could straddle his waist. Unlike last time, when Hux still seemed to have a boyish hesitancy about how to touch her, he confidently pulled her onto him. After more biting and kissing, without warning he pulled her dress in two, ripping it in half to expose her breasts. Even with his large hands and long fingers he still couldn't cup her whole breasts as he grasped them which seemed to please him if the roll of his hips was anything to go by.

"Armitage, Armitage." She whispered, trying to get his attention. He looked at her with hooded eyes as if it took serious self-control to focus.

"Yes?"

"What would you like to do with me?"

"I'd like to taste you." He whispered and twisted their bodies immediately. In a clash of limbs and clothes he turned her onto her back and kneeled in front of the couch. His gelled hair had fallen forward, and passion had warmed up his face to something far more human. With some aggression, he reached under her dress and ripped her panties off.

"You'll be paying for anything you rip, Colonel Hux." She said sternly, annoyed that he had ruined her clothes. He was not listening and instead ran his hands up her thighs to press her knees further apart. He darted in between her legs and licked her folds very tentatively, clearly inexperienced.

"Have you done this before?" she whispered, and he looked up between her legs. He didn't answer, instead rolling his tongue around her clitoris, flicking the tip of his tongue over her bud in a way which did some serious things to Avin's self-control. She rolled her head back and moaned loudly as he continued to do so, moving between the light flicks to strong sucking of her clit. He hit a particularly sensitive spot and she carded her hands through his hair to draw him back there.

"Right, right there." She panted to the growingly obscene sounds of her wet pussy being sucked. He followed direction perfectly and renewed efforts in a circular movement, dragging his tongue back and forth over her clit while she moaned deeply. She was close and whispered to him to keep going. She pulled on his hair and begin to roll her hips into his mouth taken by the start of an incredible orgasm she rode out on his face. She came hard, with her toes curling and her head thrown back. She had never experienced something like that before and she immediately wanted more. Her pussy was soaking and so was his face as he leaned back up to kiss her when she beckoned him. She pulled his body into hers by wrapping her legs around his hips and rubbing herself against his trousers.

"Armitage, I want you inside of me." She whispered and began to undo the belt of his trousers. Even as she tried to undue the belt, he was rubbing against her and panting in her ear.

"Use my title." He gasped in her ear.

"Colonel Hux, I want you to fuck me." She said breathlessly.

He pulled his own trousers down and pulled out his rock-hard erection. He was staring down at her as he pulled on himself, panting in short breaths. She wanted to lick him badly, but she knew already he wouldn't last very long if she did. She reached out and took over from him, pulling him like she had that first night she had found out about their engagement. Losing patience she pulled him down to her on the sofa, letting him kneel between her legs. She pulled him into another deep kiss and let him move down her neck to lick and suck her nipples. His cock was rubbing against her, shallowly rubbing against her clit in a way that drove her mad.

"I want you inside me." She whispered again, rolling her hips and spreading her legs wider in need. He moved quickly forward with cock twitching to enter her and then hesitated, eyes moving from her throbbing core back up to her face. The hesitation grew into a long pause filled with a very full silence.

"I can't do this." He said, and suddenly stood up.

"What." she yelled, a little too loudly, suddenly thrown out of multiple fantasies come to life. He sat on the edge of the sofa and put his head in his hands.

"What if I get you pregnant?" he whispered, looking very much like the 22-year-old he was.

"Arm, I'm on contraception. The chances of it are extremely low."

"There is still a chance." He said forcefully between his teeth. Avin was utterly baffled, chances of pregnancy with current contraception were impossibly low. Unplanned pregnancies had been virtually eliminated hundreds of years ago on the Inner Rim.

"Please come here, we've wanted this for so long-" she began pleading and was cut off by a violent whipping of his head to her.

"I will not have bastard sons!" he hissed, looking feral in the glow of her lampshade. Avin was speechless. They had never spoken about his parentage and any hint of it from others was completely ignored by the two. They sat in an extremely tense silence and Avin realised she was still spread open in a ripped dress on her own sofa. She covered herself with as much dignity as she could muster.

"Wait one moment please." She said stately and moved into her own bedroom to quickly shuck off the ruined dress and change into her silk pyjama set and robe. Her hair had fallen out of its updo some time ago. She quickly brushed her hair out and removed her jewellery before sweeping back into her living space. He was standing against the large bay windows staring out at the bright lights of Naboo with his pants firmly back in place. His robe was still off, which she thought a good thing considering the circumstances. Even in the pedestrian clothes, his back was ramrod straight as he gazed out signalling his otherness from the casual, happy people down below.

"Your parents were not pleased to see me." He stated carefully, taking in her change of dress. The look in his eyes made her heart hurt for a moment, until he resumed a more neutral expression.

"They are not aware that we are – engaged."

"We are though. You will need to tell them once I make General. The project I have been working on, it will mean an immense victory for the First Order. I have been promised my own ship if I can-"

"Come to bed Arm." She interrupted him, beckoning to him like a frightened animal. "No sex, I promise."

They went to her bedroom. He quickly glanced around and pronounced it neat with such shock that it put a smile on her face. She pulled back the covers and they lay in the bed together, the first time they had ever done so, and she reached out to gently kiss him. He kissed back with a tenderness which would never stop surprising her.

"There is no one else for me." He whispered, looking directly in her eyes intense as always. They fell asleep, legs tangled together.

In the morning he was gone.