The Lullaby Hearts

Chapter 1: Frey's Earl Grey

The metal walls shone with the wine General Hux had thrown against the wall in a fit of rage the night before. Nothing was going right. He had thought he had Ren wrapped around his little finger, but then the Supreme Leader stand-in had walked out on the First Order to live on Asgard with that CHILD of a god. Hux sighed and sat down at his desk. He stirred the steaming mug of earl grey with a well-worn spoon and sipped, nearly gagging. He looked at the wrapper the tea bag had come in.

"Frey's Earl Grey..." Hux growled deep in his throat. I thought I threw out all of that crap! The last thing he wanted was ANYTHING that remotely reminded him of what he'd lost to that leather-clad snake. He stood up and stomped over to his bathroom sink, pouring the tea down the drain. A part of him wanted to keep the tea, as a reminder of Ren, but his harsh First Order mindset overruled his fleeting sentimentality. As if trying to make a point to himself, Hux slammed the mug against the wall, shattering it in his hand. The shards of ceramic cut into his hand, creating yet more cuts that would scar over and add to the glove of scars on his right hand. He pulled on his black gloves and outer coat and stepped to open his bedroom door. Before he did so, he sighed. He wasn't about to admit it, but he missed Ren.

"I TOLD YOU TO KEEP THAT MUTT OFF OF MY SIDE OF THE BED!" Ben screamed.

Loki came running and grabbed Sandy the vulptex's collar, pulling her off of Ben's side of the bed and moving her over to his own side. "Holy Asgard, Ben. The way you're screaming, you might have been being murdered." Loki smirked.

Ben slapped Loki's arm. "Shut up, Loki." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and his his face in his hands, sighing.

"You okay?" Loki asked, now concerned.

"I'm fine."

"You know I won't believe that," Loki sighed. He shuffled across the bed on his knees and wrapped his arms around Ben from behind. "What's wrong?"

"I... I sense something." Ben mumbled.

"Don't you always?" Loki smiled.

Ben rolled his eyes. "Yes, but this time... I sense something DIFFERENT."

"Different? How?"

"It's... darker."

Loki frowned. "I swear I haven't done anything."

"Didn't say you did," Ben said. "Besides. I don't sense you. If I sensed something dark about you, it'd be overwhelmingly strong. This is a weaker darkness."

"Huh. Whose do you think it could be?" Loki moved to sit next to Ben and looked him in the eyes.

Ben mumbled something under his breath.

"What?" Loki said, slightly irritated. Mumbling was one of his pet peeves.

"HUX. It's Hux, okay?" Ben snapped. "I know you hate him, but... I sense something is wrong with him."

Loki laughed mirthlessly. "You're JUST realizing that? Ben, something's been wrong with that pasty ginger since he was born."

Ben glared at Loki. "That's NOT what I mean, and you know it." He stood up and began getting dressed.

Loki stood up and pulled his bathrobe on. "I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry."

Ben said nothing as he pulled on his tunic that was shockingly similar to a Jedi tunic. He picked up his new saber and test ignited it. The good blade shown on his face. Satisfied, he clipped the weapon to to his belt and, after pulling on his cloak, opened the bedroom door.

"Ben! Where are you going?" Loki grabbed the hem of Ben's cloak.

"I'm going back to the Starkiller Base," Ben said firmly. "I'm going to check on Hux."

Loki paled. "If you go back... You know what will happen if they catch you! After deserting for the lightside..."

Ben placed his hands on Loki's shoulders. "I'll be fine. As harsh as Hux is, I know he's got my back." He kissed Loki's cheek and turned back to the open door. "If I'm not back before Adam gets home, tell him I'm hanging out with your brother."

Loki crossed his arms. "Adam won't buy that."

"Then let's pray I'm back before he is," Ben grinned. With a final check on his comlink and his saber's holster, he left.