Hux climbed into bed, snarling and defiant. When Ren joined him, Hux informed him archly, "I have nightmares and I kick." He didn't know if the kicking part was true, but it might be. Even if it wasn't, claiming it might let him get away with kicking Ren later on, which sounded appealing.

"I'm reading your mind," Ren said sullenly.

"Good," Hux said with a huff. "Enjoy that." He engaged in some juvenile antics of imagining harm coming to Ren in unrealistic, humiliating ways, but was too tired to keep it up. Ren minded his business on the other side of the bed, offering nothing Hux could interpret as threatening aside from his presence. When Hux finally decided it was unlikely he'd be assaulted further, the adrenaline faded and sleep came quickly.

Hux woke to the sound of soft snoring and someone's back pressed against his own. The situation was so unfamiliar that it took a moment to get oriented. He turned his head to look over his shoulder. Ren slumbered on. A hint of a smile crept over Hux's face. He could kill the man in his sleep should he desire. There had to be something around here heavy enough to bludgeon him with. Even an elbow to the face by surprise might win him enough of an advantage that he could ultimately prevail, no matter the size difference or the greater amount of time Ren spent in combat training.

Ren continued to snore. Hux settled back in. It was interesting to feel another person moving against him, ribs shifting slightly with each breath. It was relaxing. He remembered the last time it had happened. He'd been a cadet coming back during the extraction from Lothal. He'd been exhausted, with a list of minor injuries and some emotional shock, though he wouldn't have admitted to it. Those with major injuries had perished, but Hux hadn't been in command so he didn't feel any special guilt over it. He'd just been following orders. Orders said strap in and hang on as they were transported back to the Avenger. He'd slumped over against the next cadet before they'd made it out of atmosphere.

When he'd woke, he'd felt ashamed of his weakness, but no one had said anything of it. Most of them were in a similar state. Later, he'd thought about how it had felt to be against someone. The only similar experience was on the Imperialis in route to the Unknown Regions, with a group of other child soldiers he'd been put in charge of. They had enough beds, but some of the children climbed with others anyway. Armitage had found it disgustingly deviant and lashed out viciously at those foolish enough to try it with him.

It was still deviant, but as an adult, that lent it an air of the erotic rather than being merely disgusting. Adults routinely slept together if they held affection for one another, or sexual interest. He had assumed Kylo's desire to share quarters reflected the latter and he'd been mentally ready to fight. But nothing had happened. Maybe they were both exhausted.

Or maybe it meant Ren wasn't interested in him. If so, could Hux turn the tables by acting interested in him instead? Would that work if his mind was being read? Hux had never considered it, but he didn't think it would be difficult to manage a semi-genuine attraction to the man. Ren was powerful and feared. The fantasy of getting to fuck someone like him was consuming enough that Hux thought it would do to conceal any Machiavellian motives. But did he have any such motives to conceal, Machiavellian or not? Or, having failed to stick a knife in the man, did he just want to stick his dick in Kylo Ren and hear him moan out Hux's name in wanton, submissive desire with every dominating thrust Hux delivered?

Stars. The very idea was giving him an erection. He would have never thought of something so lewd if he'd still had his knife. He flipped back the blanket to get up when Ren's hand came down heavily on his hip. Hux nearly jumped out of his skin. "How long have you been awake?" he asked in alarm. He clutched the blanket over himself, even though the jolt of fear sent his erection shrinking to nothingness at a record pace.

Ren rolled over slowly, taking his hand away and giving a lecherous smile. "Long enough."