Entirely Different

Chapter Twenty Eight : Mended

General Hux stepped closer to you in the dark corridor, eyes trained on your disheveled appearance with deadly precision; you could feel yourself shrink under his glare. You didn't want to imagine how inappropriate you must have looked. You didn't want to answer the millions of questions you could feel brewing and brimming his overfull mind. You didn't want to be in this situation at all. Food for thought: perhaps this, right here, is a good enough reason to steer clear of Kylo Ren for a millennia. You hated how such a fleeting thought struck so much pain in your heart.

That's when the General and yourself heard an eruption of rage from the inside of Commander Ren's quarters. On instinct, you stepped away from his door; knowing well enough that the fury pouring out of that room was a direct result of your actions. The General flinched, looking behind you at the door as if he might see through it – to ascertain the nature of such a late visit. You could already hear the speculation in his thoughts. He was praying you would have any excuse, anything even half-viable to explain why you were skulking outside of his sworn enemy's personal quarters at such an indecent hour.

You walked a ways down the hall, hoping to be out of ear shot from Kylo's tantrum while you dealt with your father. He followed you closely, almost afraid you would turn and flee from his eminent interrogation; but no, you stopped outside his door with your head hung low as you gestured towards the hatch.

"We have a lot to talk about. Perhaps we should go inside." You recommended quietly.

He nodded slowly, keeping one eye on you as he turned halfway to press a hand to the panel. The door slid aside to grant access and he gestured for you to go ahead. You let out a quiet, steady breath through your nose as you crossed the threshold into certain doom. It was difficult to work up something to say while also trying to keep your walls up from Kylo. With his anger fueling him, it would be all too easy to reach for your thoughts. You didn't know which man you'd need to put on more of a front for – Kylo or Hux.

You supposed there was only one set of eyes on you at the moment, and by the way those blue beady things followed you around his suite, you knew he'd be demanding answers soon.

"I know you have questions." You said quietly, vaguely.

Much too vague for your father's liking.

"Oh, do you think?" He scoffed, not unlike the way you do.

Something you learned from him.

You hesitated, stuck somewhere between the respect you were used to showing him and his lack of respect which your new status earned you much more than. You arched a brow at him.

"It wasn't exactly my choice, General." You grumbled.

He was quiet, watching you shift on your feet under his eye.

"Why are you out so late?" He asked hesitantly.

A shudder came from the shared wall of the two quarter's, evidence that something had been thrown against it on Kylo's side. A ragged howl accompanied it and you moved further away. Your father sneered at the wall behind you, sneering at the sounds of the man you'd put in so much pain.

"Take it easy..." You said quietly. "He got some bad news tonight."

You looked back at the wall, hearing the fury quell to something less venomous.

Hux's brow knit together as he listened.

"Is that why you're here? Deliver news to your..."

The word master sat tepidly on the tip of his tongue, you could hear him debate letting it fall off the edge.