conflictedheart: (sad look down)
Kylo Ren ([personal profile] conflictedheart) wrote2016-02-10 11:19 pm

The Hunter and the Hunted

He wasn't certain what was worse - the cold or the burning. Maybe they were feeding into one another, at this point, he wasn't sure. His face and shoulder burned, his side burned, but the rest of him was cold. The snow, a logical part of his mind reminded him, but it was a far away concept right now. It wasn't just his body broken down from the fight against a traitor and a scavenger, not to mention that damned Wookie's blast to his abdomen, but his pride, and his energy, were stripped to nearly nothing.

The planet rumbled around him, a deep bass sound that echoed around in his skull, but even as the ground quaked in the world's death throes, there was no strength left in him to get up and continue. He had given the last of it to that fight, and now he was paying for pushing his body so hard. He would pay with his life, for he knew the planet wouldn't have long.

As the cold started to seep in further, replacing the burning, his mind replayed over what had happened so shortly before, despite everything in him that didn't want to think on what he had done. He had done what Snoke hadn't believed him ready for; he had destroyed the source of the Light that plagued him deep within. Yet... he could not deny what he had felt in those last moments, at the lone truly affectionate touch he had in so many years, at the hand of the father who he had forsaken. Killed. Even as he succeeded, he had failed.

The tear that fell was nothing against the pain of the burn across his face, eyes closed as he waited for the end to come.
exhuxperation: (disfavor)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-11 05:10 am (UTC)(link)
They were both equally horrible.

The taste of failure was sour in his mouth, especially on the heels of such glorious triumph. He'd been at the top of the chain, could feel the heat of the star flaring across his face, the warmth of glory striking him to the bone. Now, even with the Hosnian System destroyed, his own is falling apart. Years of work, of struggle, what was supposed to be a crowning achievement is going up in smoke. Crumbling underfoot, collapsing inward like his own pride.

In a fit of twisted loyalty, he wanted to go down with his base, like a captain and his ship. Instead, he has his orders. Retrieve Kylo Ren and go back to the Supreme Leader, hopefully all in one piece.

His losses weigh on him enough to be numbing as he flags down two troopers, snapping at them to follow him on board a small craft. Once on, he punches in coordinates to where they'll find the stubborn, destructive idiot, tracking system still online even with the destruction around them. Hux manages to keep the troopers from panicking by sheer force of will, his own expression stony and closed off. Quicker than anticipated, he arrives at his destination and through the viewport of the ship, he can tell this won't be pretty. Sharply, he commands the pilot to land, already heading for the exit dock near the side.

"UT-804, with me. I'll need assistance getting Lord Ren onboard." Hux is relatively strong, but not enough to lift a possibly dead weight. Cold air blasts across his face as soon as the door opens and his steps are heavy in the snow. He stops abruptly at the mess named Kylo Ren, brow creasing at the sprawl of his limbs, the dark blood oozing stark against his pale face. Pulling a glove off as he kneels, he checks for a pulse, finding one weak and fluttering under his fingertips. Reaching over, he picks up the damnable lightsaber hilt, setting it atop Ren's chest. With a quick nod, he and the trooper manage to extract the Force user as gently as possible from the snow, hastily ensuring he's set on the regulation medical cot installed at the back of the ship. The ground is starting to quake apart as Hux goes to the door, palm connecting with the button to pull up the landing plank and shut the doors.

"To the Finalizer, TR-418. Radio the ship to let them know of our imminent arrival." Command is followed, he's sure of it as he hears the communication line open with a scratch. Shooing UT-804 to the secondary pilot post, Hux takes over what little first aid he can perform in the cramped space.

"What a pathetic mess."
exhuxperation: (beseech)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-14 08:59 am (UTC)(link)
He's partway through draping a shock blanket over Ren's shoulders when he hears his breathing pick up. There's more of a tension running in the other man's body, indicating he was surfacing into some kind of consciousness. Hux waits, wary. Who knew what Ren would think upon waking. Maybe he'd be disoriented, confused to the point of inciting violence.

When no strike comes, he relaxes by a small measure. The other man's brow is creasing, mouth turning down, eyelids fluttering.

And then there's a low sound, which he guesses were supposed to be words. Hm.

"Don't waste your energy." It's embarrassing. "We'll be onboard the Finalizer soon. Medical staff will be there to hand you off."

Hux realizes he might be talking to someone who could barely understand him. That cut on his forehead is looking worse and worse. Moreover, the blood leaking from his side has him worried.

Thankfully, the journey to the star destroyer is uneventful and quick. Just as mentioned, there's a small contingent of staff from medbay, ready with painkillers and sedatives and a stretcher.
exhuxperation: (disfavor)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-15 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
Hux has no reservations about handing Kylo Ren off to the medical team when they disembark. He has minimal training, the barest to get by if need be. The Jedi Killer needed something more serious, else he was going to bleed out or his wound become infected. As soon as the aggravating man has been placed in the med team's care, he sweeps off towards the bridge, to command the ship to their next coordinates. Starkiller is in shambles, ready to implode at any moment now. Not waiting until he gets to his post, a chain of orders are given through the commlink directly.

They're to head towards the Supreme Leader. It will be some time, even making a hyperspace jump.

There's a fluttering of dread in the pit of his stomach as he even thinks about meeting Snoke. This was a failure. He was a failure, on some level. Ren, of course, was the worst off of them all, though that does not give him as much joy as it might've in the past.

Grimacing, he steps onto the command bridge, ensuring everything is proceeding with the minimal amount of chaos possible. And in the aftermath of his life's work being destroyed, he's doing quite well. Dimly, he's aware that he's exhausted, a humming pain of a headache settling behind his eyes. No rest for those who seek glory. Or safety, as it were. Hux is beginning to feel like things are handled, maybe even a sliver of normal when he gets a message from the medical staff.

A situation. Of course.

He leaves Captain Yrin in charge, giving strict orders to stay on course. Furiously, he heads towards where Kylo Ren is likely pitching some kind of fit. Which indeed, on his arrival to medbay, seems to be the case. His anger has only grown and by the time the doors to the Jedi Killer's room slide open, he's ready to murder with a look.

"Lord Ren, would you care to explain why I'm having off-duty medical staff come attend to the on-duty shift?"
exhuxperation: (beseech)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-15 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
That's the crux of the situation, isn't it? Neither one of them is afraid of the other. Ideal on many fronts but in this case, something that's only been hurting them in the long run. A healthy dose of fear or at least some more respect would probably help the both of them.

Unfortunately that's not the case. Hux is furious with the—in his very important opinion—idiot sitting up in the medical bed. Why does he have to deal with someone who doesn't even want to be attended to? Resisting the urge to roll his eyes (or break something), he stands up a little straighter at the sweeping glare from Kylo Ren.

"On duty staff was following my direct orders." He starts in, expression starting to darken and return gaze particularly icy. "I can see that even in your compromised state you still refuse to, so I'll repeat myself for this occasion: I don't care what your obsession with pain is, let medical do their job or I'll have them knock you out for the duration of our trip."
exhuxperation: (red shift)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-15 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
He'll dare to do whatever he wants. The Finalizer is still his ship, he's still the General, even in the face of everything else having collapsed around him. Maybe this is just his way of holding onto his title, his power. To keep control from being wrested from him.

Briefly, so briefly, the shocked look on Ren's face is absolutely worth it. There's a strange thrill of triumph. It doesn't last long though and he can feel the beginning of the Force pressing against his throat. A threat if there ever was one.

"If you'd allowed medical to do their jobs to begin with, Lord Ren, I wouldn't need to." The last of his words are strangled, the pressure closing in. Hux can feel the beginnings of panic set in and it's difficult to fight against what his body naturally wants to do.
exhuxperation: (shadows)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-15 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
He takes too deep of a breath when he's released, oxygen rushing in and causing him to cough, almost choking again on the sensation of being able to breathe. There will be no fingerprints, but he feels like they're there all the same. A phantom pain. One gloved hand comes up to his throat, rubbing where he'd felt the most pressure. The eyes of the medical staff are on him, frightened around the edges and waiting to see what he does.

Clearing his throat, he resumes his imperious stare at Kylo Ren, not willing to be intimidated even in the face of being choked on his own ship.

"Then stop getting to a point where I need to." This is ridiculous. It should be common sense. Cooperate with medical and be on your way. Except that seems to be such a difficult task– he wants to scream. Hux already has enough stress to deal with in the face of Starkiller being destroyed. He's spent what little time he's had to think about his words to Snoke. To consider the best course of action.

He's even gone so far as to think about the repercussions the Force user will be met with. It doesn't seem like either of them will be let off easy. Though, he's mostly concerned with getting out alive. Ren seems to be too valuable to be disposable and it's a fact that grates on his nerves.
exhuxperation: (unintimidated)

it happens to the best of us smh phone behave pls

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-19 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Out." Hux wastes no time on getting the medical staff to leave. At least, for now. They go happily, rushing past him, off to their other assignments. Relieved to be out of the same room as Kylo Ren, no doubt about it. However, he won't bend to the other man's will so easily. Glancing back, he taps the control panel, hearing the satisfactory swish as the door closes.

"Just because you want to suffer tragically does not give you permission to terrorize my staff, Lord Ren." He takes several steps closer to the man, stopping just short of the one side.

"I'm not expecting thanks for dragging you off the collapsing planet when I could've left you there to die, but I would appreciate your cooperation."
exhuxperation: (disfavor)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-21 06:54 am (UTC)(link)
It's underhanded, he knows, to throw such a fact in Ren's face. Watching the other man's reaction gives him no pleasure. Nothing about this situation does. In fact, his anger simmers, boils, reaching a breaking point.

For someone who has never been an actual battle, Hux moves quickly, his hand whipping out and curling into the front of Kylo Ren's medical-issue smock. Leather from his gloves creak with the pressure and he leans in, every line in his expression etched with a cold fury.

"Let me make this perfectly clear. I do not care what you want, Lord Ren. Supreme Leader has given me strict orders to bring you to him alive and I will do everything in my power to ensure you're in one piece when you stand before him."
exhuxperation: (red shift)

gomen this week has been something else

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-02-26 12:46 am (UTC)(link)
There's something deeply satisfying about surprising the Force user. It's, he thinks, in the fact that Ren can literally read his mind. Has probably done so on multiple occasions. So to hold something over the other man is a gift in itself. Though, the shock melts, expression darkening and Hux knows it's anger. Knows there's going to be a retaliation of some kind.

This is who they are. Two men vying for power and a similar goal but disagreeing on the method. Fingers curl around his wrist (he's certain it will bruise) and they dig into flesh, bone. Even if he wanted he can't pull away and he's faced with the scorching fury from Ren.

"Try it and see where it gets you, Lord Ren." They've failed together and if Ren decides he's going to maim or murder him, well, he supposes he'd be spared the disappointment of Snoke. It's fatalistic, he knows– with the destruction of Starkiller, it's difficult to keep his head up.
exhuxperation: (unintimidated)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-03-07 08:08 am (UTC)(link)
"You think not?" His arrogance, Hux is finding, has become taxing. Coldly, he glares into Ren's face, lip curling with the insinuation that Kylo Ren would destroy his troops. Fine then. If this is how he was going to be.

Slowly, he releases the other man, fingers uncurling from the fabric. The dig in his wrist is more noticeable now and he's sure it's going to leave a deep bruise. Figures, can't even get through a conversation with the Force-user without him flying off the handle. This is how he's repaid.

"I suppose if you want to be a masochist about it all. Don't blame anyone but yourself if the pain drives you mad."
exhuxperation: (beseech)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-03-08 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[ ehehehe it's 2 true ]

Stupid, he's decided.

Kylo Ren is an idiot. A masochistic one at that. If this is something he's supposed to suffer through for his training, Hux finds it to be lacking. He doesn't understand the Force or the Dark Side or all this mystical nonsense. It's precisely that to him: nonsense. As it is, he barely sleeps– he doesn't have time for this.

Some part of him wonders if it's Snoke who demands this of Ren or if the other man has twisted it in a way. Or maybe it's entirely his own way. If it comes from Snoke, he lets the indiscretion slide even less. In order to hone a weapon, one doesn't continually push it to the breaking point. Sharpening a tool takes time and care and effort. There shouldn't be a reason for this.

But then, that's his failing here, isn't it? He's a creature of logic and none of this conforms.

"You were terrorizing my crew, in case you'd forgotten in the last span of minutes. Whatever issues you have, you can take them up with me first. Is that clear?" He has a damn ship to run and re-hiring competent staff is difficult.

"Moreover, I won't have Leader Snoke blaming me for your pain or your possible death from a wound like that."
exhuxperation: (unintimidated)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-03-12 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Isn't that too bad, he thinks a bit viciously at his medical staff being good at their jobs and fixing Ren up. It's somewhat childish, but the thought only lasts for a moment before he brushes it off for being anger-driven and useless. Though, it does seem like Kylo Ren once again fails to see the big picture. Once again is being some overdramatic Sith in training.

Hux resists the urge to shake him.

"The Supreme Leader tasked me with retrieving and bringing you to him, Lord Ren. As you've probably noticed, he doesn't take well to failures." He doesn't mention that he also doesn't allow himself to fail either. Even if most of him wanted to leave Ren in the snow, he's duty bound enough that he never would.

"I'd much rather not swap places and walk in your shoes, in that regard." After all, he's worried about pretty much one thing and that's keeping himself on top of his game. One day, he'll hold more power. One day, he won't have to think about this, won't have to keep checking to make sure Ren hasn't chewed his leash straight through.

(But maybe, maybe he was concerned about the welfare of this person who tries and tries and tries despite the odds being stacked against him).
exhuxperation: (blue shift)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-03-18 07:56 am (UTC)(link)
This is true. Neither of them are to be envied. Hux has taken great care to think about it. To try and suss out what punishment may await him when they come to Snoke. He isn't a particularly imaginative person, but having dealt in strategy so long means he understands how to inflict pain. How to belittle someone. How to cut them down with only words and nothing more. Leader Snoke has more than that at his disposal, and he shudders at the thought.

Normal people shouldn't be caught in the pull of the Force. It's not right.

"You even less so." That much was probably true. The scar that runs across Ren's face is proof enough of this, he thinks. "I did what I set out to do. It was a failing of holding back certain members of the Resistance that caused Starkiller to crumble."

His words are delivered near-monotone, no inflection even if he feels the failure sit heavy on his shoulders. But to betray that would mean weakness.
exhuxperation: (turn shift)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-03-25 11:12 pm (UTC)(link)
"I see." He doesn't. Because while Ren is saying he accomplished something, Hux has his doubts. The other man looks worse for wear and not just from the grievous wound or the gash running across his face. Paler, maybe. More fragile, though he would never say as much. Ren's problems are (mostly) his own.

Staring at him flatly, he doesn't even deign to raise an eyebrow for the question.

"Of course not. I don't take issue with being straightforward with all of the reasons, including any that may have come from my oversight." In other words: he takes his responsibility very seriously.
exhuxperation: (pale shift)

[personal profile] exhuxperation 2016-04-04 07:16 pm (UTC)(link)
They're both sidestepping that topic. Kylo Ren, he can tell, is dismissing it entirely– well, it only makes sense. Hux would never understand the ins and outs of such things. So there's no further point in discussing it.

As the other man speaks up, he tries to hold his gaze, to see if there's something he can find there. Some kind of answer. Normally, he's not a very nervous person, but with the veritable blade hanging above their heads, he can't help it.

"Judging from how poor both of our results were. Are. I have doubts he'll be willing to grant us peace through a private session." Humiliation is a driving factor in how much they compete with each other. Suffer enough shame and it roots itself in a strange sort of ambition. Do better than the other, always. Don't go through that all over again. Too bad they're both on the chopping block here.

(He has no illusions that he'll be the one kept, if it comes to eliminating the "weaker link").

"We'll be facing his wrath together, most likely."
notaservant: (Default)

Sorry for the confusion

[personal profile] notaservant 2016-02-26 06:15 pm (UTC)(link)
General Hux paced about in his private quarters, he did not like the failure that the First Order had suffered from. It was a big blow to his pride and at the same time he had lost a lot of his men. Many were unable to escape. It was going to take a while for the First Order to rebuild and gain more support. He felt no sympathy for the five planets he had destroyed, but for his own men he did.

He also knew he was no longer held in high regards by their Supreme Leader and needed to work fast to regain his favor. This had been his project and one he was so ready to use. He had never guessed that the damnable Resistance would find a way to destroy it and blamed a lot of it on the traitor, the storm trooper that went rogue.

He would have had them --the traitor and the girl, but the Supreme Leader had stressed that he only retrieve Kylo. Perhaps, he should have ignored such orders and gotten them as well. Then he could have regained some favor.

Hux walked over to his own desk and looked at his computer screens, studying the new strategies and possible weapons to use. In the end, he deleted everything finding them not worthy. The hours spent on them were wasted.

He decided instead to go pay a visit to Kylo and see how the young man was doing. It hadn't been too long since he had retrieved him and he knew those wounds would take some time to heal. Hux knew that the young man was probably taking the defeat harder then he was and wondered briefly what their Supreme Leader had in store for him.

Hux reluctantly admitted that he got a thrill every time he got the young man riled up knowing that he wouldn't meet the opposite end of the saber. At the same time, he felt that Kylo was the only one who matched his intelligence and wit. He never knew what to expect with their conversations. Was he ever going to openly admit it? No. Instead, he sat down next to the beside where the brooding young man was resting and knew that eventually he would be acknowledged.
notaservant: (Default)

[personal profile] notaservant 2016-02-26 06:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Concern flickered across General Hux's face and quickly disappeared behind an impassive expression. Those watching him would know that the general was concerned even if he was trying to hide it. Hux couldn't hep but notice how vulnerable the Knight looked and how he was nothing what he used to be. Hesitantly, he reached out and placed a gloved hand around the pale hand wondering if Kylo would acknowledge at all.

After battling the silence for a while, Hux gave in and released his hold on Kylo's hand. "You can choose to hide or or do something about it. The man I knew wasn't afraid and could strike terror in anyone's hearts. What I'm seeing now is an empty shell of that person. You can't give up now. We got too much to do. This is just a minor set back."

As he spoke he studied the man before him, hoping to see some kind of signs of life. He wasn't great with being supportive, but he was being straight forward in trying to push him to do something.
notaservant: (Default)

[personal profile] notaservant 2016-02-26 07:07 pm (UTC)(link)
About time. General Hux couldn't help but smirk. "I'm right here wasting my precious time trying to get your pathetic self up back to working. Did you think I was going to let you sit there and lay in bed all day long?" He rolled his eyes at the Knight's excuses.

Self indulgent ones?! They were all for the First Order. "What caused part of the minor set back is the fact tat we aren't working together. We're too busy worried about our own goals." Hux curtly replied.


notaservant: (Default)

[personal profile] notaservant 2016-02-26 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
The constant whining that came from Kylo. It was so like Kylo to turn everything on to himself. This, Hux did not miss. His concern for the young man was quickly disappearing. He held his hand up in annoyance.

"I expect you out of here by the end of this week. If you don't listen to what they have to say I will personally supervise what's going on. I will be more then happy to sedate you, if necessary, and it won't be pleasant." Hux warned and continued to speak in a brisk manner.

"No more wallowing in self pity. I will have new strategies and plans set up by then and they will involve us working together whether or not the Supreme Leader agrees."
notaservant: (Default)

[personal profile] notaservant 2016-02-26 09:16 pm (UTC)(link)
He simply waved off the threat not phased at all by it. "I will do what it takes to regain Order," Hux replied.

Loosing his weapon had been a major blow to his ego and he was desperate to try and find control again. He knew that immediately as he uttered those words it would come back to their Leader and he would be reprimanded.