Tender Loving Care

Night, 2:00 AM

Hux almost ran out of the house to meet the cab. Hux shoved the driver a fifty-dollar bill, muttered "Keep the change," and practically pulled Ren out of the backseat. Hux swung an arm over Ren's head, and grabbed his waist. Ren groaned and muttered Hux's name under his breath. Hux muttered reassurances back to Ren as he fumbled with the door. Hux finally managed to to get the door open, and Hux heaved Ren onto the couch. Hux stepped back, breathing heavily from having to support Ren.

Ren was an absolute mess. Head listing to the side, his thin white cotton shirt ripped almost in half, exposing a sweaty, heaving chest. Ren absolutely stank of alcohol and smoke, and his hair was mussed up so much that it looked like someone had glued a dead hamster to his head. Ren wasn't freshly shaved, either, so stubble dotted his face. He was missing a shoe. Hux sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers. "Honestly, Ren. You go out for a couple hours and get so wasted that you look like you were mugged twice." Ren smirked and leaned dangerously close to Hux. Hux leaned back, but Ren wrapped his arms around Hux and yanked him forward onto the couch, crushing Hux's lips against his. Hux struggled against the foul taste of alcohol permeating from Ren's mouth. Finally, Hux pulled away, eyebrows furrowed, and Ren fell back on the couch. "Ren, that was disgusting! What the hell have you been drinking?"

Ren lifted his head. "Hux," he croaked, "I'm gonna..." Hux yanked Ren off of the couch and dragged him into the bathroom. Hux lifted the seat of the toilet just as Ren retched, losing the last of his drinks as Hux lifted Ren's hair out of the way, murmuring reassurances to Ren and rubbing slow circles into his back as he heaved. He was still mad at Ren for that awful kiss, but he couldn't help but feel sympathy for the big, drunk bastard.

When Ren's retching started to abide, Hux turned on the shower, turning the knob three notches to the left. Hux pulled Ren into an upright position, and began to take Ren's filthy, sweaty clothes off. The shirt was first. Then the shoe, socks, pants, and, finally, Ren's Darth Vader boxers. Hux scoffed when he saw them, but he kept with his task until Ren stood naked in the middle of the bathroom. Hux helped Ren into the shower, then began the process of taking his own clothes off. Hux slipped into the shower behind Ren, who was swaying ever so slightly from side to side. Hux lathered up the soap bar and began to run his hands all over Ren, scrubbing away the stink of the grimy club and the alcohol. He even shampooed ren's hair, softly working the shampoo into Ren's scalp and massaging it. Ren groaned and tilted his head back so Hux could access more of his scalp. The Hux washed the bubbles out of Ren's hair, and turned off the water. Ren complained a bit when the warmth of the water was gone, but soon Hux was drying him off with a fluffy towel, so he didn't complain that much.

When Ren and Hux were dried off, Hux pulled Ren into the kitchen and poured him a cup of coffee. Rn gulped it down and wrinkled his nose. "This tastes like shit." Hux replied, "At least you drank it."

Hux then pulled Ren out of the kitchen and into the master bedroom. Hux opened a drawer and pulled out some pajamas. Hux carefully slid the warm clothes over Ren, and then put on a pair himself. When he turned back to Ren, his dark hair was still damp. Hux picked up a comb from on top of the drawer, and began to run the comb through Ren's hair. Ren's eyelids fluttered at the pleasant sensation. Ren tried to say something, but Hux shushed him and continued brushing his long, dark hair. When Hux was finished, he lifted up the covers of the King-sized bed and held Ren's arm to help him into bed. Ren sighed in satisfaction when he climbed awkwardly into the bed. Hux climbed in after him, and tucked the covers under his chin and reached for his book, then switched the lamp on. Hux listened to Ren's steady breathing for a bit. Then Ren spoke.

"What are you reading?"

"Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit." Hux replied.

"It sounds stupid. Read it to me."

Hux read his book to Ren in what he hoped was a soft and lulling voice. Hux read to Ren for at least half an hour before he noticed that Ren had fallen asleep with his head in Hux's lap, breathing evenly and softly. Hux ran his hand through Ren's hair for a bit before he closed his book and switched off the lamp. Hux settled down into bed when he heard Ren mutter

"Love you."

Hux let a couple of seconds pass before he responded.

"Shut up."

Ren huffed and smiled at Hux. "Still mad about that kiss?"

"It was pretty bad." Hux admitted.

Ren smiled brightly. "Let me make it up to you, then." He said, sitting up and pulling Hux into his lap. Hux started to object, but Ren ducked his head and kissed Hux, effectively shutting him up. Ren could feel Hux's skin starting to get warm, and smiled against his lips. Finally, Ren pulled away from Hux, and they both gasped for air before looking at each other and bursting out laughing. Hux poked Ren in the chest with two fingers. "Much better," he said.

Ren replied by flashing Hux another bright smile. He threw an arm around Hux. then went back to sleep. Hux closed his eyes and snuggled against Ren.

I love you, too.