Taking Command Book 1 (Kylux) (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Twenty One: Apprehension

Hux PoV

I watched Ren carefully throughout the meal, ready for any sign that he was trying to play me or lead me on. I found it hard to believe that after the past days of taunting, cutting remarks, and general wrath pouring out from the young man, that he would be consentingly touching me, much less kissing me and claiming pleasure. The thing was, he looked at ease, calm, and fairly self assured.

I was interrupted in my contemplation by the timely arrival of our food. I accepted my soup and steaks and are eagerly, as did Kylo. The soup was indeed exotic, seasoned with unfamiliar spices which, while different, were not unpleasant. The steaks were well cooked, prepared as I had requested them.

"This is a good restaurant," I remarked. "The food is without fault, at least to me."

"I would have to agree on that count." Ren looked very pleased as he jabbed at his Alderaan style salad. "Their ability to spice and season is impeccable, and the quality of the foods themselves are high. All these statements we make will be reflected in the doubtless exorbitant bill for the meal." He smirked a little as he examined a leaf on his fork before dipping it in the sauce and devouring it.

"I have a question. You seem to be accustomed to fine dining and how one holds themselves in such situations. Where you, by chance, raised by an ambassador or dignitary?" I was half joking, but sincerely curious in the background of my partner.

"I was raised in affluent conditions," was his taciturn answer,"I would thank you kindly not to ask anymore question about my life before the First Order." His tone went from light and careless to a much harder and darker tone. This seemed to be a sore point for him. I wondered why.

"Do you have any results?" I asked, changing the subject. He did not seem to care.

"Actually, yes. In the west side of the Archives, near the back." He picked up his little scanner and set it in his pocket. "We can examine the images it collected in the apartment. Closer examination can take place once we are in the Temple proper."

"How will we get in?" I asked him curiously,"the Temple is a heavily guarded area. To the New Republic, it seems quite sacred, despite it standing for a monastic order which took advantage of their powers to lord over others." I had a low opinion of the Jedi as an order and a people group. My opinion of Force users in general was not high, although, Ren was obviously growing on me.

"Simple. At night, we will sneak in, when the only guards are droids. We can sit on the roof of an overlooking building and snipe down the droids then move in. Can you get your hands on Verpine sniper rifles?" He asked me.

"Of course I can!" I replied snorting,"That's nothing," I said confidently.

"Good. Then we can do it as soon as those arrive. We need to spend the day patrolling the area near the Temple, but it needs to be subtle." Ren's planning skills wowed me. That had never struck me as an ability of his, yet he seemed capable of planning well. "We need to have an established schedule for the security droids at night as well. That means we should probably set up cameras with a live stream. They can play as we sleep and we can analyze them in the morning." Kylo looked at me seriously,"How does that sound?"

"Very good," I replied honestly,"let's do it!"

At that moment, the server came by with our expensive bill. Kylo's alcohol was the most expensive, not to my surprise. What was to my surprise was that by now, Ren was beginning to be drunk. He had some problems walking and was giggling stupidly into my shoulder. I wondered when the last time was that he had had strong liquor.

"Hey, Hux, the sky is bright," Kylo murmured drunkenly as we went to hail a taxi to take us back.

"Uh huh," I did not pay much attention as I tried to hail a ride.

Eventually, we got home, or what settled for it. Kylo got barely into the apartment before collapsing on the floor. I carried him into the bedroom and laid him on the bed and covered his body.

I felt apprehensive about all of this. Did Kylo return my emotions? Would this be a success? What happened of something went wrong? I was not sure, but I had to do something. Whether I was right or wrong, I could not just sit placidly by. Fear could not rule me, neither in this relationship or this mission.