She's right, Hux assures himself. She's right. You didn't deserve that. He's always known. It's what's hunted him through his daydreams, starting when he was a toddler: himself, ruling the galaxy, with his father at his feet.
You think too much of yourself, boy, scoffed his father to Hux's declaration of future greatness.
No, Hux seethes to a ghost, to a man long dead. You think too little of me.
But the ghost won't leave Hux. It moans, pressing itself against his skull, bleeding silver memories.
Oh, darling, what about the boy? He's your son, you take care of him. Me? I have to deal with him for weeks at time, while you're gallivanting around the galaxy! He's a good boy, he just needs your guidance!
The boy could be someone. But in my shadow, I'm afraid he just doesn't have the motivation. Said right in front of Hux.
I can hear you! the nine-year-old boy wanted to scream. I can hear you! And so he did scream, and his father's fist swung out and caught him in the right eye.
Hux flinches, his hand covering his eye even now. Go away! He stumbles as he tries to run down the corridor.
"Sir?" A stormtrooper stares at him. Hux can't see through that infernal white mask—infernal, why would you say that—think that—shit!—
"I'm fine," Hux says shortly, even though he's not. I'm going mad. That girl—her powers—she's driving me mad!
And madness is something Hux can't abide. He needs to be in control.
But he won't be. Firstly, because of Ren. And now the girl. And later, her brat—Ren's kid, too, because fate seems to love twisting Hux about and knotting him up, trapping him, strangling him. I should be your apprentice! he wants to scream to the Supreme Leader.
"General!" The Supreme Leader's voice booms, and Hux follows it.
"I have news. We must inform Rey Kenobi immediately."
What could be so important the Supreme Leader must be there? Or maybe—maybe he doesn't trust you anymore. Maybe you'll be demoted soon enough. "What news, Supreme Leader?" I've sacrificed so much, you can't take that away!
The Supreme Leader opens Rey's cell, marching in first. Hux follows. His usual ice-cold calm is replaced with a boiling, bubbling fury, and he doesn't understand it and it frightens him.
"I have news for you," the Supreme Leader announces.
"What?" Rey pushes her plate away from her, apprehensive. Her gaze flicks over to Hux as if he's the comforting presence here. Hux doesn't want to be comforting. He wants to be menacing. Dammit!
"Kylo Ren is coming back. You and your child may be able to live after all. If I cannot persuade you to turn to the Dark Side—and my General cannot either—"
Hux breathes in. This cannot be happening.
"Perhaps he will," Snoke concludes.
The girl's eyes are wide with terror, with fear, because through the Force or whatever, she knows Snoke is telling the truth. Although still, some hope sparkles across her face, and Hux hates her for it.
When Snoke departs, Hux stands stiffer than ever, because if he so much as twitches a muscle, he might explode. For the first time, he wants to lose himself in a tantrum and smash things up with a burning red fire stick.
YOU ARE READING
•LEGACY - A Reylo Story•
Fanfiction*WRITTEN PRE-TROS, POST TLJ* When a ship crashes near the Resistance base, Finn and Poe are shocked to discover Kylo Ren. What does he want? And where is Rey? And as for Kylo, he must decide how much he can trust them with what he knows about Snoke...
