Demoted (Hux X Reader)

Plausible Deniability

I barely slept. Maybe I had an hour here and an hour there. I pace around my room, in an effort to answer my own question.

Should I put in a request for transfer?

I really like the General- more than I ever thought I could. I don't want to leave on a bad note. The most respectful thing I can do is tell him the truth and leave.

But I don't want to leave. What if I pretend like nothing happened in that meeting? What if he's actually oblivious to the whole thing? I got extremely lucky to have such a thoughtful superior. He trusts me, he uses my skills, he defends me, and he doesn't hold my past mistake against me. Even if I didn't like him, I don't actually want to leave. It's a good job.

I already packed up my duffle bag of clothes and personal items just to spare myself the future work if I do decide to transfer. I sigh to myself. Who am I kidding? It doesn't matter what the circumstances are. First Order rules are there for a reason. Fraternization is forbidden. I should put in a transfer. Maybe ask him to put in a good word so I'm not ostracized again.

I stare at my dark teal uniform, sitting away in the far reaches of my unlit closet. I may as well leave it here. By the time I get my rank back, I'd probably be issued a new one anyway. There's been talk of making all officer uniforms black to prevent the resistance from picking out who's in charge on the battle fields. Too many teals have been killed.

I scoff out an audible laugh. "Well at least it isn't a red uniform."

I sigh and check my time. Maybe I could get another hour or so in of sleep before my alarm goes off. Ugh. I am not looking forward to my shift in a few hours.

I dream of the work I was focusing on for another strategy from earlier that day, before the emergency. Our plans of attack against the resistance hit a few tactical issues that I just couldn't figure out. Instead of the base being resistance, it was an old imperial base with tunnels and a secret exit. The Galactic Empire always had a secret exit. Someone stands next to me, in a charcoal black uniform and wool overcoat, discussing strategies and a few points of vantages that scouts could also use. His face could not be made out, but by the blur of ginger orange hair and the wisps of smoke, I knew exactly who it was. I don't ever want to let that moment go. I lean into the darkness standing next to me. It was so very comforting. We work so well together. Our plan of attack is so genius. I only wish I had thought of it rather than him.

I gasp awake, just before the alarm could go off. I did think of it. The resistance base is an old Galactic Empire base! I have to draft a new plan right away. Although our presentation is finished, it just didn't sit well with me nor Hux. After yesterday's emergency work, there was simply no more time left to see what else we could come up with. That meeting to address the attack is this morning!

I nearly fling myself out of bed and throw on my pajama pants, swiftly untucking my shirt. I grab my teal robe and slip it on. My shift doesn't start yet and I know Hux will be up in the early mornings in his office. He always is before meeting me at the messhall. I throw on my fluffy black slippers and run to his office, nearly slipping with every turn I get. At some point I even did a slide but caught myself with my hands grasping onto the cold shiny floor, crawling into a sprint once again. It isn't unusual to see officers running to work at odd hours, clearly in the middle of their night schedule. The only person I haven't seen in civilian attire is the General himself. Commander Ren? I don't even know what he looks like under the mask.

I slam into his door by accident and begin banging on it loud and fast.

The door unlocks. I rush into the room. Hux sits quietly at his desk. Before he could even get a word in, I scramble out my revelation. "General! It's an old Imperial Base!"