Tender Loving Care

Night, 1:00 AM

Beep. Beep. Beep.

The clock on the nightstand beeped over and over again. Hux could hear it from the living room, but he was so immersed in his book that he wasn't bothered enough to go over and silence the alarm. Besides, Millicent was nestled in his lap and there was no way that he was going to wake her The alarm kept beeping away, however, so Hux snapped his book shut and got up from the large cushioned armchair with an annoyed sigh. Millicent meowed, discontent, and Hux soothed her with gentle pets.He crossed the living room, pushed open the large door opening into the bedroom, and pressed the "Off" button on the alarm with a short jab of his finger. Hux was about to turn away so he could go back to reading, when he actually noticed the time. 1:00 AM.

Ren should be home by now.

Hux drew up short, and then hurried over to the nightstand by the bed and opened his phone. No texts. One voicemail. Hux poked the "Open" button and listened intently to the almost incomprehensible barrage of noise. He could just make out Ren's voice over the insane crowd and the pulsing, horrid music. "HEY, HUX!" Ren's voice shouted, "ME AND PHASMA WENT TO THIS CLUB THAT SEEMED COOL BECAUSE SHE GOT A RAISE. I PROBABLY WON'T BE HOME BY 12. DON'T BE WORRIED, OKAY? OKAY. SEE YOU SOO-" Hux blinked and a woman's voice chirped "End of message." Hux pressed his lips together and punched in Ren's number, and held it to his ear. The phone rang, once, twice three times, then-

"H'lo."

"Ren, where the hell are you-"

There was a sharp intake of breath, and then frantic whispers and giggling on the other end of the line.

"Ren? What's going on? Respond this instant!"

"Uhh...Kylo's not here right now."

Hux relaxed, letting out a short huff through his nose. "Ren. Get a cab and drop Phasma off at her home, then come here. You've had enough for tonight.

Disappointed murmurs and exclamations were exchanged, then Ren spoke again. "We just got here, like, two hours ago. Can we please just stay a little longer?"

"Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound? Come home now!"

Ren grumbled something incoherent, and then replied with a short "Fine. Be home soon."

"Re-"

The phone cut off and Hux resisted to throw it against the wall. He paced around the living room, running an agitated hand through his hand and checking the road through the window to see if any cars passed. They didn't. Hux couldn't stand sitting around any longer, so he lit a cigarette, and smoked it until it was a stub. He put it out in the kitchen and proceeded to brew himself a pot of strong, dark, bitter coffee to keep him awake as he waited for Ren. Half an hour passed. Then 45 minutes. Then a full hour. Just as Hux was worried that something utterly terrible had happened to Ren, Hux saw the headlights of a car pull into his driveway.