Tenebrific//Frigorific (A Kylo Ren Short Story)

Chapter 5: Love//Hate

"But you must know that only he who fights the darkness within will the day after tomorrow have his own share in the sun." –Odysseus Elytis

***

            Kylo starts to leave the room. Nyx told him she could pass out, and since she did, he wants to retrieve her before someone else finds her first.

            Hux calls after him, "When she wakes up, tell her that I'm grateful you made her."

            "Tell her yourself." Kylo slams the door behind him. Once Nyx is safe in his arms, he walks back to his room and waits for Snoke to freak out on him. He's not sure when Nyx will wake up, but he hopes she's still passed out while he talks to Snoke.

            Sitting near his unconscious love makes Kylo think. He should've never told Hux about her; he should've never suggested they use her. But if he hadn't, he might not have had another chance to wake her up for years. So he doesn't exactly regret it. He—

            "Kylo?"

            Kylo hadn't even heard Hux come inside. "Yes?"

            "Snoke wants to talk to me first," he says quietly. "I'll come get you when he's ready for you. I'll sit with her if she's not awake yet."

            Kylo nods. He didn't think Hux was going to get in trouble for this; he didn't make her, use her, want her, doesn't love her.

            "Remember that she's mine to take responsibility for," Kylo calls before the door shuts. Hux doesn't appear to hear him.

***

            "So, you tell me that Kylo Ren created this...humanoid...without consulting me first. It has extraordinary powers, as I just saw on the battlefield, and you two thought it would be a good idea to keep something like that away from me."

            This is how Snoke's speech to Hux starts. He's calm, as always, but there's always a calm before a storm. Hux just hopes he has an opportunity to talk. He has something he needs to say.

            Snoke's voice raises with each syllable. "You lie to me, say that we're prepared for this fight, and then bring out this secret weapon that no one has ever seen, use it, not knowing what it might bring, and then allow Kylo Ren to keep it a secret from me! Do you know what kind of punishment this calls for? For all of you? It is not permitted here. I want it dead, gone, and demolished!"

            "She," Hux mumbles under his breath, his eyes locked on Snoke's.

            "What?"

            Hux clears his throat and adjusts his footing before speaking. "She. Her name is Nyx. She is not an 'it'."

            Snoke laughs, a dry, sour, unused laugh that makes the room tremble. "I know you have more to say. Go on."

            Hux pauses. This has to come out the right way. "Kylo made Nyx, it's true, but she is a human with, like you said, extraordinary powers. You saw what she is capable of out there, and you want to send her away? Kill her? She has the potential to be the greatest weapon the First Order has ever seen. To render her useless and murder a blatantly supreme addition to our side wobbles on the side of absolute stupidity."

            Snoke narrows his eyes; when he remain silent, Hux continues.

            "She is immensely valuable. Not to mention that Kylo admires her greatly, and if you took her away from him, it would hinder his leading skills and overall emotions, which, as we both know already, are extremely unstable. Supreme Leader, I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but I'm trying to show you the downside to your decision. And I think you should seriously reconsider.  Punish Kylo and me however you like but don't take Nyx away. Don't kill her for contributing to this madness. Don't do that to Kylo."