Hux stood in the lift as the doors began to shut. He did nothing at all as he watched Ren stalk toward him. The doors would be shut by the time Ren got there. With a wave of his hand, Ren pressed the hold button at a distance. Hux allowed himself an annoyed sigh as the doors reopened and his commanding officer joined him.
It was a long, silent ride. Hux spent it on his datapad, typing in a request for an additional bed to be delivered to Kylo Ren's room. Ren followed him out of the elevator. Until then, there had been the possibility Ren was headed elsewhere. "You're coming with me?" Hux asked.
"I said I'd help."
"You're the one who needs help," Hux said with an abrasive tone. "As the most senior officer on the bridge, did you designate who had command upon your departure?"
Hux didn't conceal his smirk when Ren's single blink of surprise outed him for the lapse in protocol. He didn't regret it even when Ren grabbed him by the throat with his gloved hand and shoved him against the wall. "If the supreme leader can be replaced, then so can a general!"
He grimaced at the fingers digging into his flesh. His hands touched Ren's wrist lightly, but he didn't go so far as to resist. Besides, it seemed Ren didn't actually know how to choke someone with his hand – or he wasn't trying. "You're the one who said it."
"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm being throttled by you for the second time today. What do you think?"
"I think you're not getting out of my sight until I know I can trust you."
"That's going to be a very long time." Hux knew that didn't help his case, but he didn't care. He moved his hand up so his fingers were on Ren's, trying to judge if he could get away with peeling them off.
Ren let go. He looked tired and frustrated. "What arrangements do you have to make?"
He hadn't been slammed against the wall, only shoved. He hadn't been choked, only pinned by the neck. Hux eyed Ren suspiciously for the leniency. "I'm going to get my things from my quarters."
"Then let's do that."