[There's a reason that Ben hasn't left the hospital just yet—just as he's had to pull the pieces of his memories back together, and as his body requires time to heal, his soul has also been fractured in some ways. He can sense the general's feelings, but that's just one small part of his connection to the world's energy.
To put it plainly, Ben hasn't recovered enough to use the Force in the ways he usually could. If his life is truly in danger, it may yet emerge to protect him, but even then he might hesitate. He doesn't want to hurt Armitage, even though the reverse may not be true.
When that blade comes towards him, he reaches a hand out to touch Hux's face, hoping—trusting, though it may be a mistake—that what they have here still means something.]
[Hux wasn't even considering the idea that Kylo can't use his powers right now, despite him being in bed and recovering from his own fate back home. It's just many times before, he used the Force to get Hux to fall in line and much to his anger, he had no choice to obey or suffer even worse consequences. So, a part of him is counting on Kylo suddenly choking him or tossing him against the wall. It has always been the most effective way in getting him to back down and Kylo sure didn't mind doing that to him.
But none of those things happen.
A hand gently placed against his face, the vulnerability and pleading still apparent, and somehow, Hux stops the blade just an inch from Kylo's face. It would be so easy right now to run the blade through him, finally having the upperhand against him. It should be a simple motion, but there's an underlying sadness radiating from Kylo, a force just as effective as his actual power that stays his hand, although Hux would never want to admit that. Past his own anger is a deep grief that he doesn't want to deal with, even as it settles in his chest and causes his arm to shake, the blade lightly vibrating in front of the former knight.
His revenge is so close, but the comfort from Kylo's hand--]
No. Don't.
[Hux finally speaks, his voice cracked with emotion and he seems to struggle with himself, as if forcing himself to move the blade closer to Kylo. The tip begins to poke into the vulnerable side of his face, a warning-- maybe an inevitability, but it never presses deeper.]
[There's a tension around his eyes when that point of the knife touches him, sharp enough to cut the skin with just the barest amount of pressure. But he still does nothing to stop Armitage, watching him with clear worry in his expression. There's no point in trying to hide behind a facade anymore.]
I'm sorry.
[He's apologizing for a great deal to be sure, but not for everything. He can't possibly regret everything that's brought them to this place and time where they've both found an unexpected happiness in one another. On the surface level, he's also apologizing for going against Armitage's request—for offering comfort where he knows it's needed. But he doesn't entirely regret that either, because he knows there aren't a lot of people out there who will offer it.
Gently, he tucks a stray red hair behind Hux's ear.]
[Hearing Kylo apologize now, when it's far too late, when it's wholly meaningless, only angers the general more. His arm steadies as his face twists into an ugly expression, pushing back the lump in his throat as that familiar rage builds in him. The sharp prick against Kylo's flesh digs deeper again, enough pressure to break the skin and for a small bead of blood to form.
Perhaps worrying, but it still speaks volumes that Hux hasn't gone all the way through with this. There's still some struggle in him, that prevents the general from pushing the blade further.]
I hate you.
[It's said quietly, but the venom is apparent in each word. His eyes bore into Kylo's, even as the other man gently pushes a strand of hair away, not wanting-- not allowing himself to be comforted by such a gesture. Hux can't fall for this, not after everything. He's fine rejecting the one good thing he had in this world, because that same person also ended up being the worst thing to happen to him back home.]
I'm glad you're dead.
[Hux is more than willing to tell himself that Kylo's own fate back home, along with the threat of punishment in this world, stays his hand from finishing him off now. That's all. He's still looking out for himself and his safety. It's better to think this way than deal with this clump of emotions festering in him.]
[As many times as he's heard the first sentiment before, it never stops cutting into him, a sharper and more painful weapon than any blade Armitage could wield. The statement that follows is no surprise, as a result. He breaks eye contact as tears build in his eyes, and he takes a shaky breath before swallowing to work through the tightness in his throat.]
I know.
[Ben drops his hand to rest on his knee, leaving Hux to do what he will. He doesn't know that he has the energy to try to stop him, anyway.]
[Seeing the tears build in Kylo's eyes only reignites his anger, the blade pressing deeper once more as a scream tears from Hux's throat, slicing down the former knight's face with his weapon and causing a red line of blood to follow in its wake. The injury isn't too deep, given the structure of the monomolecular blade, and at this time, can't think clearly enough to be relieved or angry about that.
Nonetheless, he sharply pulls away from Kylo, panting loudly, his face flushed from anger and strain, his body near shaking as the blade drips blood onto the ground. For a few moments, it may just appear that Hux will continue to stand there, until he looks down at something on his hand and--
With another loud noise of disgust, he rips the ring from his finger and throws it at Kylo.]
[With a brief grunt of pain, Ben lifts a hand to his face to cover the cut—as shallow as it may be, that blade is still sharp and his guard is down in more than one way. But then something much worse happens, and the familiar green crystal catches his eye as it bounces off his chest to land in his lap.
It takes him half a second to realize what it means and the temperature in the room drops sharply along with the feeling in his chest.]
Armitage. Don't leave.
[He's pleading in earnest, now. He's already lost so much.]
[Seeing the obvious pain in Kylo's expression, the pleading, tugs at something in Hux's chest that's somehow still there. Despite everything that's happened in that terrible year, his feelings haven't been completely torn away, but they're still easily pushed aside, overtaken by the utter hatred he's currently feeling for his partner.
Well, former partner.
Hux's expression darkens, no remaining empathy left as he gives one final look at Kylo.]
Rot, Supreme Leader.
[With that, he turns sharply on his heel, and makes his way out the door.]
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lostapprentice) wrote2035-01-06 02:37 am
no subject
To put it plainly, Ben hasn't recovered enough to use the Force in the ways he usually could. If his life is truly in danger, it may yet emerge to protect him, but even then he might hesitate. He doesn't want to hurt Armitage, even though the reverse may not be true.
When that blade comes towards him, he reaches a hand out to touch Hux's face, hoping—trusting, though it may be a mistake—that what they have here still means something.]
Please—
no subject
But none of those things happen.
A hand gently placed against his face, the vulnerability and pleading still apparent, and somehow, Hux stops the blade just an inch from Kylo's face. It would be so easy right now to run the blade through him, finally having the upperhand against him. It should be a simple motion, but there's an underlying sadness radiating from Kylo, a force just as effective as his actual power that stays his hand, although Hux would never want to admit that. Past his own anger is a deep grief that he doesn't want to deal with, even as it settles in his chest and causes his arm to shake, the blade lightly vibrating in front of the former knight.
His revenge is so close, but the comfort from Kylo's hand--]
No. Don't.
[Hux finally speaks, his voice cracked with emotion and he seems to struggle with himself, as if forcing himself to move the blade closer to Kylo. The tip begins to poke into the vulnerable side of his face, a warning-- maybe an inevitability, but it never presses deeper.]
no subject
I'm sorry.
[He's apologizing for a great deal to be sure, but not for everything. He can't possibly regret everything that's brought them to this place and time where they've both found an unexpected happiness in one another. On the surface level, he's also apologizing for going against Armitage's request—for offering comfort where he knows it's needed. But he doesn't entirely regret that either, because he knows there aren't a lot of people out there who will offer it.
Gently, he tucks a stray red hair behind Hux's ear.]
no subject
Perhaps worrying, but it still speaks volumes that Hux hasn't gone all the way through with this. There's still some struggle in him, that prevents the general from pushing the blade further.]
I hate you.
[It's said quietly, but the venom is apparent in each word. His eyes bore into Kylo's, even as the other man gently pushes a strand of hair away, not wanting-- not allowing himself to be comforted by such a gesture. Hux can't fall for this, not after everything. He's fine rejecting the one good thing he had in this world, because that same person also ended up being the worst thing to happen to him back home.]
I'm glad you're dead.
[Hux is more than willing to tell himself that Kylo's own fate back home, along with the threat of punishment in this world, stays his hand from finishing him off now. That's all. He's still looking out for himself and his safety. It's better to think this way than deal with this clump of emotions festering in him.]
no subject
I know.
[Ben drops his hand to rest on his knee, leaving Hux to do what he will. He doesn't know that he has the energy to try to stop him, anyway.]
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Nonetheless, he sharply pulls away from Kylo, panting loudly, his face flushed from anger and strain, his body near shaking as the blade drips blood onto the ground. For a few moments, it may just appear that Hux will continue to stand there, until he looks down at something on his hand and--
With another loud noise of disgust, he rips the ring from his finger and throws it at Kylo.]
no subject
It takes him half a second to realize what it means and the temperature in the room drops sharply along with the feeling in his chest.]
Armitage. Don't leave.
[He's pleading in earnest, now. He's already lost so much.]
no subject
Well, former partner.
Hux's expression darkens, no remaining empathy left as he gives one final look at Kylo.]
Rot, Supreme Leader.
[With that, he turns sharply on his heel, and makes his way out the door.]