Imagine that after Ben has returned to the light, after the war is over, he’s managed to secure a pardon for Hux, with plans to go somewhere far away and live out their lives in peace, only for Hux to be assassinated in retribution for his actions during the war. He dies in Ben’s arms.
Ahhhhh oh no!!!! Imagine that they’re packing their little ship with supplies for the long journey to their new home on a nameless little planet when Hux is shot, taken out by an assassin on an overlooking rooftop. They’re out of sight before Hux has even fallen but Ben cries out in anguish as he runs forward to catch him but the shot was perfect. Hux’s breath is already lost, Ben is begging him not to leave him, their happy ever after is gone.
“One day, you will forgive me for this,” Kylo says to Hux’s turned back.
Hux keeps his head bowed but Kylo sees his shoulders sag with a sigh. Then, he turns to face his lover, the crate of supplies he is holding placed back down on the console of the ship being readied for thier departure. He lifts his gaze to meet Kylo’s but any words that he wants to say remain trapped behind his teeth. Instead, he expresses his displeasure with his eyes.
Kylo talks for the both of them. He’s been doing that a lot lately. “I know this isn’t what you wanted, what you planned for. I know you wanted to go down with your ship and that I took your choice to do so away from you. But what else could I do? If you think that I could have left you out cold and bleeding as I ran away, then you don’t know me at all…:
“Kylo…” Hux says, shoulders sagging once more. His posture has changed ever since he was delivered by Kylo into the hands of the Resistance. Kylo thinks it’s a sign of how defeated Hux feels, but it may just be a side effect of changing his clothes from stiff military uniforms to loose linens.
“Hate me for being selfish,” Kylo continues. “Hate me for keeping you alive even though you had prepared for death. Hate me for being unable to let you go. But please know that I only did it because of how much I love you. Because I do, Hux.”
Hux shifts awkwardly on his feet. Kylo can see that a part of him wants to forgive him for forcing them both into this life, so far away from the glorious deaths that they had both envisioned for themselves. Hux won’t lie to him though; he never could. However much he would like to forgive, Kylo knows that Hux cannot deny that the wounds of betrayal need more time to heal.
But Hux does move forward, cup Kylo’s face in his hands, and press a kiss to his hairline. “I know,” he whispers to Kylo’s temple. When they break apart Hux shows his acceptance of their fate by returning to his task. Kylo feels like something has shifted. Perhaps now he can be brave enough to hope?
The sound of the blaster beam hitting the glass of the ship’s windscreen makes Kylo think, for a split second, that the assassin at the door of the ship has missed. But then Hux is crumbling in front of him, collapsing in on himself like a droid powering down for the night. Kylo catches him before he can hit the floor, turning Hux over in his arms fully believing that the damage cannot be that bad.
Hux’s eyes are dead. A perfectly round hole is set between them. Ren reaches out with the force, clinging on to whatever remains of the man he loves more than the dark. But there is nothing there. All it took was one second to snuff out the brightest light in the galaxy.
TechieHux 