[As obvious as he may think the reasoning may be, he's nonetheless open to explaining it if it will help Hux at all.]
You didn't come home. I was worried.
[The utter lack of feeling that he can sense not only through the Force but also through this world's effects and the sound of his voice is indeed concerning. Anger is what Kylo would expect from the other man, or even quiet hatred. Not nothing.]
[Perhaps he should be elated by that, but Hux can't find it within himself to care at all still. Why does it matter? Their relationship will mean nothing back in their galaxy and he's already being replaced by Rey in this world. Ren might worry for a few days, but he'll be fine without him, Hux is sure about that.]
[Whatever Hux might say to him, even if he declares his hatred all over again and says he never wants to see him again—Ren wants to at least make sure he's not sitting in the slums for no reason, under a roof that seems like it should have collapsed a week ago.]
[Cracks begin to spread across the wall, reaching towards the ceiling and the ground. It doesn't look like it'll take much before the whole building collapses, but Hux doesn't move still.]
[Kylo's eyes go to those cracks, a sharpness to his gaze momentarily before he pulls the other man to his feet. If he doesn't care, then Kylo will have to do the caring himself—and he knows that talking about it would take far too long. As hesitant as he's been to make major decisions lately, sometimes it's just better to do.]
[That particular grab gets a reaction from Hux, an obvious and more familiar anger rises from him as he tries to pull away from Ren.]
Let me go!
[Unfortunately, his anger only contributes to the further weakening of the wall, cracks splintering across until the building shakes and starts to collapse.]
[Ren curses under his breath—if there wasn't any time before, there definitely is any time now.
Managing to spin Hux in the direction of the door before he wrests himself out of Kylo's grip, the knight forcefully—and with the Force—shoves the other man's chest, sending him flying backwards and out of harm's way.
The intense, determined look on his face is the last thing Armitage will see of him before the roof comes crumbling down.]
[Whatever remaining apathy Hux had instantly disappears when he sees the roof crash down on his partner. It all happened so fast; one moment he was safe against Ren's chest, the next moment he was shoved away and out of harm's way from the collapsing building.
For a moment, he continues to stand there, stunned, until panic and desperation begins to fill his eyes as he kneels down and tries to throw the rubble off Ren.]
Ren!!
[He thought that distancing himself would work, that he could stay angry or just not care, but deep down, he didn't want that.
And now his partner could be injured, dead, all because of Hux. The one person that has managed to make this place tolerable could be crushed under a building because of his pointless anger.]
[A heavy piece of roof shifts under Hux's foot, and a muffled but aggravated voice comes from beneath the large pile as Kylo attempts to move the rubble off of him.]
You're stepping on it—
[He could fling it off of him with little consequence to his own health, but he's not about to do something so drastic with Armitage in the way.]
[Hux immediately steps away-- he actually backs up enough to give Ren some space. However, he doesn't help, mostly because he's just stunned to hear his voice, clear and not in any sort of pain. He thought... he thought that the worst happened to him.]
...Ren?
[Is he really fine? Although he looks at the rubble with some slight apprehension, a comforting smell begins to form in the area.]
[It only takes another few seconds for that rubble get tossed off to the side from the pile, and from it emerges a dusty Kylo Ren with a few scrapes on his arms and head. He's got a look of almost nonchalant distaste on his face as he observes the collapsed ruins, dusting his gloves and clothes off as best he can.]
I suppose this is another area for the committee to fix.
[...Ren is fine. He's standing in front of him, practically unharmed, and acting like everything that just happened is no big deal. He doesn't even seem angry at Hux.
For a moment, the general just stares at his partner, before taking a few brisk steps to pull Ren into a hug.]
...
[While he doesn't say anything, the tight grasp on Ren and the relief pouring from Hux probably says enough.]
[Kylo sees the hug coming, and holds Hux close, a gloved hand in his hair. He's just as relieved as Hux is to see him unharmed and at least less upset than he was before, and he's glad to stay silent for a few moments in that embrace.]
[Hux nods against him, but despite his agreement, he doesn't pull away just yet. He wants this moment to last longer... he wants to be close after trying to stay apart from Ren for a week now. It was difficult, far more difficult than he wants to admit.]
...I'm sorry.
[Probably the second time he's ever apologized to him.]
[He's not going to argue for a longer embrace, especially after all the time Armitage has been distant with him. He takes in a slow breath, savoring the moment.
Apologies are rare from the other man. Kylo has learned to appreciate them when they come.]
[Normally, this is where Hux would keep silent or just return home without any more incidents occurring. However, not only does he keep his grip on Kylo, a quiet, but still audible comment comes from the general.]
[It means more than just waiting at home and existing in the same space occasionally. Even if he did spend time with Rey while Hux was gone, it doesn't erase his feelings for the other man.]
I'm not about to forget you just because you're not there.
[He's been truly foolish, hasn't he? Overreacting to this, thinking that Ren doesn't care at all despite the fact that he's been told otherwise numerous times. Hux can see now that he's been blinded by his own jealousy and hate all of that almost hurt Ren.]
...I was jealous. Afraid you were going to think I'm not as good as her.
[A small part of Hux scoffs at the idea of even considering that Rey is better than him, but most of him has been afraid of being replaced. Perhaps it's because of his past experience with Cardinal or just being aware of Rey's powers and her connection to Ren, but he's been unable to get rid of that feeling for days now.]
I know, perhaps. But I thought it was still possible that you would replace me.
[In a way, Kylo is glad to be confronting this, having Armitage pull out his fears and giving them voice so that he can refute them for good. Maybe it will give the other man more reassurance than previous attempts to comfort him, to have a more direct avenue into the issue like this.]
We've been through too much together. It's not the same as what I have with her. It's not replaceable, and neither are you.
[Is it really possible to care about two people in a similar manner like that? Hux doesn't know, but perhaps Ren is capable of that. Maybe he's just desperate to believe that, although he knows that his partner wouldn't lie to him about this. So for now, he'll have to believe Ren... trust that even though he and Rey are different, Ren still cares for them both equally.
It's hard.]
Promise me, Kylo. [He wants that last reassurance.] That you won't replace me.
[Kylo brings his hands up, placing them on either side of Hux's face as he looks intensely into Hux's eyes. He doesn't want to be seen as anything other than completely serious when he says it.]
[Hux sucks in a breath, hearing the promise spoken with such sincerity is deeply comforting. Sure, it's just words, but he's putting his trust in them. It's what he should do, even if it's so easy to break a promise.]
...Okay.
[There's water in his eyes suddenly, but Hux doesn't do anything about it.]
[While Ren doesn't exactly smile, there's a certain lightness and relief in his gaze when he hears his partner accept that promise, even if his heart aches at seeing Hux tearing up. Still—he can tell they're tears of something positive, rather than grief, and he'll accept that as a good reason for Armitage to cry.
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lostapprentice) wrote2035-01-06 02:37 am
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You didn't come home. I was worried.
[The utter lack of feeling that he can sense not only through the Force but also through this world's effects and the sound of his voice is indeed concerning. Anger is what Kylo would expect from the other man, or even quiet hatred. Not nothing.]
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[Perhaps he should be elated by that, but Hux can't find it within himself to care at all still. Why does it matter? Their relationship will mean nothing back in their galaxy and he's already being replaced by Rey in this world. Ren might worry for a few days, but he'll be fine without him, Hux is sure about that.]
...Don't waste your time.
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[Whatever Hux might say to him, even if he declares his hatred all over again and says he never wants to see him again—Ren wants to at least make sure he's not sitting in the slums for no reason, under a roof that seems like it should have collapsed a week ago.]
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[Cracks begin to spread across the wall, reaching towards the ceiling and the ground. It doesn't look like it'll take much before the whole building collapses, but Hux doesn't move still.]
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Let me go!
[Unfortunately, his anger only contributes to the further weakening of the wall, cracks splintering across until the building shakes and starts to collapse.]
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Managing to spin Hux in the direction of the door before he wrests himself out of Kylo's grip, the knight forcefully—and with the Force—shoves the other man's chest, sending him flying backwards and out of harm's way.
The intense, determined look on his face is the last thing Armitage will see of him before the roof comes crumbling down.]
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For a moment, he continues to stand there, stunned, until panic and desperation begins to fill his eyes as he kneels down and tries to throw the rubble off Ren.]
Ren!!
[He thought that distancing himself would work, that he could stay angry or just not care, but deep down, he didn't want that.
And now his partner could be injured, dead, all because of Hux. The one person that has managed to make this place tolerable could be crushed under a building because of his pointless anger.]
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You're stepping on it—
[He could fling it off of him with little consequence to his own health, but he's not about to do something so drastic with Armitage in the way.]
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...Ren?
[Is he really fine? Although he looks at the rubble with some slight apprehension, a comforting smell begins to form in the area.]
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I suppose this is another area for the committee to fix.
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For a moment, the general just stares at his partner, before taking a few brisk steps to pull Ren into a hug.]
...
[While he doesn't say anything, the tight grasp on Ren and the relief pouring from Hux probably says enough.]
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Let's go home, Armitage.
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...I'm sorry.
[Probably the second time he's ever apologized to him.]
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Apologies are rare from the other man. Kylo has learned to appreciate them when they come.]
It's alright.
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I thought you were just going to be with her.
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[It means more than just waiting at home and existing in the same space occasionally. Even if he did spend time with Rey while Hux was gone, it doesn't erase his feelings for the other man.]
I'm not about to forget you just because you're not there.
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[He's been truly foolish, hasn't he? Overreacting to this, thinking that Ren doesn't care at all despite the fact that he's been told otherwise numerous times. Hux can see now that he's been blinded by his own jealousy and hate all of that almost hurt Ren.]
...I was jealous. Afraid you were going to think I'm not as good as her.
[Being honest about feelings??]
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I don't blame you for your feelings—but you know that's not true, don't you?
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I know, perhaps. But I thought it was still possible that you would replace me.
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[In a way, Kylo is glad to be confronting this, having Armitage pull out his fears and giving them voice so that he can refute them for good. Maybe it will give the other man more reassurance than previous attempts to comfort him, to have a more direct avenue into the issue like this.]
We've been through too much together. It's not the same as what I have with her. It's not replaceable, and neither are you.
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It's hard.]
Promise me, Kylo. [He wants that last reassurance.] That you won't replace me.
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I promise.
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...Okay.
[There's water in his eyes suddenly, but Hux doesn't do anything about it.]
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Softly, he says:]
Let's go home.