stardestroyervigilance:

kyluxcantina:

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Hux had
always expected to die fighting the Resistance but he didn’t quite expect it to
be like this. He’d always thought he’d be taken out by an assassin or perhaps shot
down in a ship he was commanding. He wasn’t expected to die on a battlefield,
covered in dirt and grime, bleeding out slowly.

Around him
Hux could hear the ongoing skirmish around them. The endless cacophony of
plasma flung between both his troops and the Resistance’s rung out in the open
field. Hux looked up, blinking blearily, watching a TIE be shot down by a
passing X-wing. He watched numbly as the ship exploded into a splatter of
orange fire, the black shards of the ship’s flung heavily to the ground.

The wound
in his side ached, as did the similar hole in his shoulder. That Resistance
fighter had had quite the aim. They’d been quiet too. Hux hadn’t seen the shot
coming and neither had the Stormtroopers around him. They were the only reason
the shots were not instantly fatal, their shots having found the fighter before
they could truly put an end to Hux.

Hux
supposed those ‘troopers were far away now, having been drawn away by the chaos
of battle. Hux couldn’t hear anyone for some distance, the fighting drawing
further and further away from him.

The wind
picked up, whistling past his ear. Hux couldn’t hear anything save for the
blood in his ears, the frantic thump-thump of his heart as it worked tirelessly
to keep him alive and awake. Hux felt sticky, the blood from his wounds having
soaked through both his uniform jacket and his greatcoat.

Hux was
alone, and he was dying. He was sure he was quite the sorry sight. Or perhaps a
pleasant one, depending on who you were.

Hux lay
there for what felt like an eternity before the sounds of the battle began to
wane. He had barely even noticed it, the pain of his wounds clouding his thoughts.
Hux wanted to scream but he didn’t, instead gritting his teeth against the fire
in his side, taking death as stoically as he could.

He wondered
if anyone would remember him after he was gone. Would he be another Imperial
leader immortalised in the history holos or would he be forgotten, simply a cog
in the united system? The prideful part of him hoped it was the former.

Footsteps
drew close, the thundering steps kicking up the dust of the planet’s earth.
They seemed frantic, their footsteps quick. Hux wanted to sit up to see who it
was but found quickly that he could not. His body was no long cooperating with
him and he felt lightheaded. He must have lost more blood than he thought.

“Hux? Oh no…”

Hux blinked
at his name, listening at the footsteps grew closer. He knew that voice. It was
deep, familiar, both comforting and infuriating at the same time. In moments he
saw the face he knew that voice belonged to.

“How long
have you been here?” Ren asked, dropping to his knees beside Hux. Hux didn’t
answer, feeling at though Ren’s question was likely rhetorical.

Ren seemed
concerned, his brows furrowed and lips tightly pursed. Hux couldn’t imagine
why, Ren had never shown much care for him before. Hux heard him say something
to the Stormtroopers beside him, something about a medic.

“Don’t…
bother…” Hux croaked out, his throat feeling exceedingly dry. He coughed, the wounds
in his torso protesting at the action. Hux barely felt the blood oozing from
them between his fingers anymore. “It’s too late.”

Hux felt
himself being moved, his body trapped in Ren’s arms. The movement hurt, but it
didn’t hurt any more than most things did right now. It was warm and he felt
his eyes dropping. He was so tired.

“Don’t,”
Ren snapped. He sounded strange, his voice wavering despite the rough command. “Don’t
close your eyes, help is coming.”

Hux wanted
to laugh. He was beyond help.

“I’m going
to die here, Ren,” Hux said, his voice barely a whisper. A shot of panic ran
through him as he realised the truth in his words. “Oh stars, I’m going to die.”
Hux began to shake, his chest filled with terror. He whimpered, a pathetic
sound born of pain and fear. He was suddenly so scared. Everything hurt so
much.

Ren’s grip
tightened. “You’re going to make it, your Supreme Leader commands it. You wouldn’t
disobey a direct order would you? That’s not like you at all.”

Hux could
feel Ren against him. He seemed to be shaking, a slight tremor in his hand as
he brought it up to brush a strand of hair away from Hux’s eyes. Not only that
but Ren’s eyes were open wide with panic but glossy with unshed tears. Ren
blinked, a stray drop running down his cheek. Was Ren crying over him? How
strange.

He wanted
Ren to stop. He wanted Ren to smile. He’d always preferred it when Ren smiled,
as rare of an occasion as that was. He’d always looked to sweet, so young, so…
happy. He’d hoped his death would bring Ren joy; they were rivals after all.
Hux had always actively been a thorn in Ren’s side. Hux thought that Ren would
be overjoyed at having that thorn removed. It seemed wrong that Ren seemed to
be genuinely distraught by this.

“I think I
was in love with you, you know,” Hux mumbled. It hurt to speak but he supposed
he should probably say all the things he’d been keeping back before he passed
on. For closure, and all that.

Ren let out
a horrible chocking sound, something eerily close to a sob. It sounded painful.
“I know.”

“Oh…” Hux
paused, swallowing. “Good.” Hux took a shuddering breath. “I wish we’d had more
time.”  

Hux grit
his teeth, a fresh wave of pain running through him. He thought maybe he’d
eventually grow numb to his wounds but every time his mind clouded over
something broke it and he was in agony again. He groaned, finally letting
himself react.

Ren perked up
at the noise. He was staring down at Hux, probably barely seeing him through
his bizarre wash of tears.

“Hurts…”
Hux ground out.  

Ren moved his
hand that wasn’t holding Hux against him and brought it close to Hux’s chest. His
hands shook as they hovered over Hux’s chest. He seemed unsure. His fingers
flexed and within moment his pain was lessened, not gone but definitely far
more bearable. His chest felt fuzzy, a sensation he was more familiar with
having in his head. Ren had used some Force trick on him. He wanted to be offended
but found himself relieved instead.

It was a
thin comfort, and weak, but it was better than none.