Kylux Drabble: A Simple Request
(Ship Warning: Contains Kylux [Kylo Ren x General Hux])
*Slides the heck in* Eyyyyyyyy, this blog isn't dead. Kinda.
Regardless, I'm here today to celebrate the festivities of May the 4th...or, more aptly, Gay the 4th.
In honor of the movement that has arisen today to promote and raise awareness of LGBT representation in Star Wars media, have a crappy old Kylux drabble of mine that I have revamped/added to for the occasion.
I don't believe I posted the original version of this drabble on this blog before, but if I have have a slightly improved version of it anyway.
May the gay be with you, friends.
In the end, the Dark Side was about embracing power, and power, sometimes, was brought about through emotion.
Kylo Ren was, at his core, a man very much influenced by emotion: he had hopes, dreams, and aspirations like anyone else, focused though they may be through his training...
And sometimes all that energy, all that focused emotion and careful, regimented, and channeled power tended to break loose, break free, manifest in a myriad of ways...
Usually in violent outbursts, broken machinery, inanimate objects torn and sliced apart, followed by long periods of time spent alone, reassessing himself, connecting with his goals, his bloodline, his destiny, and calming down...
But never before had his emotions swung out and landed on attraction, before.
"General Hux."
The general turned to him, staring at Kylo with those stern, piercing blue eyes, eyes that Ren felt stab straight right through him...though, in truth, he had nothing to fear from this man: the power gap between a Knight of Ren and a mere, an ordinary General was simply too great...
Regardless, he took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"What is it, Ren?"
"..."
Some called Hux weasely, thin-boned, high-strung, and vain...but Kylo could see past all that gossip and bad-mouthing: Hux was a man of dedication, one who believed, strongly and without fail that the First Order would bring order to a chaotic galaxy, that his troops, trained nearly from birth, we're superior to mass-produced clones, and that, at the center of all things...
Power could bring peace and progress.
"Yes, Ren? What do you need? If you're just going to stand there and stare I will have to ask you t-"
"I have a request."
Hux's upright, commanding stance didn't falter, but his gaze did: his eyes traced over the Knight of Ren quickly, noting what he could from Ren's body language, unable to come to much of a conclusion, thanks to his hidden face...
He could glean tell that this request wasn't about business, though.
"What is it?"
"I was wondering if you need assistance on your next surveillance detail."
Hux's stance tightened as Ren's relaxed.
Ren knew that Hux took his last surveillance detail of each day alone, late in the night, when half the troops were resting and the others that were awake were occupied with training, mission preparation, and other menial tasks.
This night surveillance shift was usually quiet, consisting of standing at a security console near Hux's quarters, alone for several hours while he put some battle plans together and worked on some personal projects of his.
Why would Ren want to "help" him on such a detail?
He thought of their usual banter, of how they would butt heads over just about every decision made on-board and elsewhere, how at odds they seemed despite, in the end, sharing the same eventual goal: the victory of the First Order.
Perhaps, Hux mused, Ren had had a change of heart, and wanted to talk outside of the heat of battle or the tension of being on a mission. He could certainly handle that.
Hux looked Ren up and down, then responded, evenly:
"Yes. Meet me at the console in Block 336 at 01:00."
"Very well."
And with that, the Knight of Ren strode away, leaving Hux to return to his duties, while Kylo, in turn, breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
He'd said yes.
---
When Ren entered block 336 he found Hux staring at a screen, subdivided into about a dozen camera views from around the station, sitting, leaned back in a chair.
Kylo tilted his head: he was not accustomed to seeing Hux sitting, let alone reclining and without his usual straight-backed, focused attention.
"General Hux."
"Kylo Ren."
The two greeted each other tersely, both aware that the situation was a bit more that it seemed to be.
Kylo reached for the back of Hux's chair, gently resting a hand on it near Hux's head, and although the general didn't flinch at the close proximity of the limb, he did turn his head to look up at the masked man, quizzically.
Ren met his gaze, and calmly reassured him:
"You can relax, there's no one else near this block. I would feel their presence."
"I'm aware, Ren."
The general nodded and waved a hand towards the screens ahead of him, letting out a slightly annoyed sigh as be stood up.
"Ren, what is this about?"
"..."
Kylo was silent for a time, then cooly replied:
"I simply have something to say to you, something I didn't want others to hear."
"What?"
Ren...flinched slightly. He was, for the first time in a while, unnerved by Hux's coldness, and it didn't go unnoticed: Hux's icy glare turned to a look of bewildered concern as Ren tightened his hands into fists, and glared the general right in the eye from under his helmet.
"I admire your dedication. It takes much for a man unattuned to the Force to do as much as you do. I have never seen you raise a blaster and yet you run the most important base, critical to our success efficiently, powerfully, and with certainty. Your work is beyond appreciated, General Hux."
Hux...stared at the man, and although his body language denoted discomfort, his gaze grew a little softer. He wondered, perhaps, if Snoke had put Ren up to this, had had enough of their petty squabbling and had sent Ren to him to make amends...
But even with that helmet in the way, with the lack of facial cues to discern the full emotional impact of Ren's words...
Again, Hux could tell this wasn't just about business.
"...your praise is appreciated, Ren."
The general turned back to his chair and away from the Knight of Ren, Kylo responding by immediately calling out:
"Wait!"
Hux turned back, just in time to see Ren removing his helmet, tousled black curls framing a...suprisingly winded and flushed face.
"The Dark Side is about embracing power, and power sometimes comes from passion. It is obvious that you have passion for what you do, General Hux..."
Ren reached forward, placing a trembling hand on Hux's shoulder, Kylo suprised that the general didn't move away or back, a relieved smile unconsciously crossing the Knight of Ren's face.
Hux, on the other hand, was stuck a little still by this development, especially by the instability of Ren's hand as it shook on his shoulder and that odd smile that had crept across Kylo's face for a moment there: was he mad? Going mad? Why was he acting this way?
Regardless, he remained quiet as Kylo finished:
"...I can appreciate that, despite our occasional disagreements."
Hux was...starting to lose his nerve. His shoulders relaxed slightly, his gaze becoming less stern, his jaw not set, glancing from Ren to his hand on his shoulder and back.
"Well, I'd say they're a little more than 'occasional', Ren."
"..."
He didn't move back as Ren took a step closer, didn't flinch as he brought his face close to Hux's.
"...for some who heed the call to the darkness, our power is increased when we allow certain emotions to grow stronger, when we explore and pursue certain..."
Ren was visibly shaking, nervous, heart racing as he moved his hand up to cradle the side of Hux's face. The general stayed still.
"...emotions. Would you be willing to indulge and, perhaps, reciprocate such emotion, with me?"
Hux tilted his head slightly into Ren's hand, an eyebrow raised, looking him up and down.
He...hadn't considered romantic endeavors in quite a while...but with Ren staring at him with that terrified, blushy face, a side of the frightening Knight visible, now, that he had never seen before: with that helmet off, with Ren shaking like a frightened child approaching their playground crush, with Hux able to see the genuine longing and fear of rejection in those dark eyes...
He was quite intrigued.
"Very well, Ren," Hux said, his tone stern, but his words accepting:
"I will give this endeavor of yours a chance."
"...th-thank you, General Hux."
The Knight of Ren took his hand from Hux's face, quickly gathering his composure and reaching for his helmet.
"Ren!"
Kylo startled slightly at the General's loud command.
"I have a request to make of you."
Hux strode forward, getting very close to Ren, who in turn, blushed even more brightly, it taking everything in Hux's power not to laugh at such a display.
"...y-yes, General Hux?"
Hux looked him over one last time, weighing options, noting facial features and the tone of Ren's voice...
He moved swiftly, cupping the back of Ren's head and pulling him in close, planting a short, soft kiss on the man's forehead before pulling away and nodding towards Ren's helmet.
"You should go. Report back to my chambers after this surveillance detail tomorrow for further discussion on this endeavor of yours. Understood?"
Ren nodded, placing his helmet back on...
Unable to hide the little, blushy smile that spread across his face as the dark helm clamped down and hid his features from view.
"Understood, Hux."