glory and gore | a Star Wars story

5

"Oh, really?" Ren coughed, and the triumph fell away from Hux's pale face when the dark figure took a step closer to him as well, and the tables were once again turned. The General clenched his teeth, and sensed how white fear wash over him as cold water. Still his contemptful eyes glared up at the dark mask, and he wouldn't allow his defeat to show. "You know what's funny?" his deep voice echoed through the woods.

"Enlighten me" his voice was mannerly, but brittle. He struggled to keep his face straight, as he waited for the man to explain. Hux couldn't help himself but to shudder backwards when Ren suddenly strode across the moss and approached him. Behind his back, he felt the uneven surface of one of the great trees.

"As you said most people find the mask disturbing, but not you, you seem to have no problem with looking straight at me while I wear it" a glimpse of disappointment danced in the deformed, mechanic voice. The light from the moons above their heads reflected in the solid dark fabric of the mask Hux stared upon. "It's when I do this" he went on, now his voice more collected, which never was a good sign. At least not for Hux.

He raised his hands. The gesture caused Hux to flinch, almost unnoticeably, but enough for Ren too see. He remained, but said nothing when he took of the helmet. "you can't even look at me" he spoke and Hux, who now was forced to show his loss whether he liked it or not, as he kept his eyes towards the ground. The taller man's voice was no longer crashy, and voluminous, but thick and clear. "Why is my face more difficult to see?" He wondered while he leaned closer to the General who refused to watch him back no matter how Ren's dark, keen eyes wandered over his features. Then he rose his hand again, but this time he moved it towards Hux's who turned his face away desperately, but could do no more where he was trapped against the tree. To his surprise Ren's hands were bare, when his fingers brushed against the pale skin of his freckled cheek. "You're shaking" Ren stated in fascination.

"Get your hands off me" Hux's voice was merely a low hiss. His face was deformed with loathe and anguish. Beneath him, he sensed how his knees had begun to tremble. Against his skin he felt Ren's fingertips seek over his face, his hand was warm, the surface was rough and solid after years of training.

"Look at me" Ren commanded instead as he tilted his chin up. He took a firmer hold of the man's jaw and forced him to face him. His head was kept in a steady hold, a hold which told Hux it was no use to fight back or try attempt to resist. Unwillingly he ran his gaze over the shape of the tall man before him until their eyes met. The blood had dried over his chin, the dark, unruly hair fell around his head and framed his face. Steady brown eyes were fixed on Hux, his expression was determined and somber. "Is it so bad?"

Hux tightened his jaw, but said nothing. Ren leaned his closer, as something was burning within his intense stare, he opened his mouth to speak, when Hux refused to, but a sudden sound from behind his back made his hastily glance over his shoulder. Still with his body close to the General's slight features, he roamed his eyes over the trees to determine where the sound had come from. A bright, warm glow was visible some distance away from them, it cast shadows over the moss and the mist. It was a contrast to the pale glimmer from the moon. It was far away, nearly unnoticeable for someone who was unobservant.

Someone who was unobservant during this occasion was Hux, he might not have noticed the sound and the glow from the torches far of in the woods, but the change in the taller man's countances had not gone by unseen. He knitted his brows, while Ren remained with his head turned away from him.

"Would you let go of me-" he began in his strident voice as he struggled to become free from the larger man's grasp of his jaw. One finger in the air before him was the only answer he received from Ren, and it was enough to make a glimpse of rage flicker within his eyes. "I will not be silenced by you"