04. mental link

[exhuxperation]

COMMAND over oneself and others	AMBITION nothing will stand in my way
ORDER chaos will not be tolerated	MANY over the individual

( CODE BY WHAMBAM )

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[exhuxperation]

[ Why does that matter?

Their time on Concordia changed his outlook. A subtle shift. The Nest is much like the Order— many outweighing the one. It has not swayed him from his particular attachment to Kylo. He finds anger and irritation there as much as he does comfort. Acceptance.

Those many losses are lightened like this. He does not need the pods to know that. ]

We can return after. [ A concession. While cramped, the pods can be soothing. ] This space is...inadequate; I'd rather have room to stretch.

[narcissithstic]

[One beat, two, the slow slide of air between them and—]

Fine.

[Ren shifts back into what little space he has left, turning himself so that he's facing the ceiling of the pod. Those soft, humming lights. It's as kind as he knows how to be, leaving the General room to escape.]

[exhuxperation]

[ Slowly, Hux lets out a breath. Ren's whims were occasionally still difficult to figure out or foresee. It seems that this discussion worked in his favor. Or both their tables, really.

Kylo gives him space to maneuver, something he takes gratefully. Slipping out of the pod, he waits only briefly to see Kylo is following before he continues towards the exit of the nesting deck. It feels nice to stretch out fully in the hallways, the soothing white-grey of the walls providing a blankness that allows him to focus. The walk to his quarters isn't too long; there still are no doors but they're afforded space and some modicum of privacy.

Hux pauses in the doorway, turning to grab ahold of Kylo's hands in his as he walks back to the bed. ]

How do you run so warm all the time?

[narcissithstic]

[It's a noise low in his throat, a low rumbling like an animal being coaxed from its lair in spite of its own instincts.]

I layer.

[Is that a joke? A fact? Maybe both. In reality it's a mix of causes, none of them his focus in the moment, tearing his grip free of Hux to take hold of his hips instead, picking him up.] And you weigh nothing.

[exhuxperation]

[ Was that a laugh? The sound is so different, not quite a growl or dismissal. Whatever the case, Hux still finds amusement bubbling up in his chest. ]

I se— oh!

[ He's interrupted, lifted up and off the ground by just enough. Kylo's hands are warm and steady on his hips; the strength behind it all easily felt. More than willing to be of assistance, he hitches his legs around Ren's waist, slides his hands to the back of his neck. Under his palms, Kylo is solid, a comfort and something that causes heat to coil in his abdomen.

Hux tilts his head to press a kiss to Ren's mouth. It's softer than usual, leisurely. ]

[narcissithstic]

[He handles it stiffly. He only ever handles it stiffly, those small signs of affection. Like something beaten learning to function again, his association with kindness is muddied by past experience. Expectations.

Still, he does try. Perhaps that's all Hux could ever ask for.

Ren's heel turns under that embrace, carrying the General with him as he reverses himself to sit down at the edge of the mattress.]

[exhuxperation]

[ Kylo's reaction is muted, stiff. It's something he's noticed and gotten used to. Because they both grew into such harsh people; Hux surprised himself by shedding the armor faster. Maybe, he thinks, this is what he wanted to begin with.

It's too late to really know. And this is neither the time nor place.

Not when Ren's warm against him. Solid through their layers as Kylo sits on the bed, Hux naturally coming astride his lap. He rolls his hips against Kylo's, relishing the purely physical jolt that goes through him. ]

How do you want this? [ Hux slots their hips together again, letting out a soft sigh. ]

[narcissithstic]

How do you think?

[At his leisure, and without compromise—

Though as is so often the case in moments like this, with that heady heat between them and his nerves sparking like a live wire, compromise might very well be necessary. He breathes in, out, eyes lidding ever so slowly, fingers dropping by degrees.]