“Armitage,” Techie crooned, choosing his with words with precision. “Brother. You don’t- you don’t have to d-do this.” He begins walking towards them, hands up in a placating gesture.

Hux is thrown off by the use of his first name and his arms falter as if lowering Adeline. When he catches his moment of indecision he straightens her up in the air once more. “Back off, technician, or I’ll throw you in too!”

“I’m a t-tech, yes,” Techie’s almost halfway there, “But I’m your br-brother too, aren’t I? Aren’t I a H-Hux? Even with my f-freaky eyes?” He lets very real pain flash in his expression as he asks, words quiet but message loud, “Do I not deserve to live, brother?”

This was a tremendous gamble. Hux projected ruthlessness and cruelty at all times, but would he feel that way with Techie? Deep down, did Hux want a family too?

Something shattered in Hux’s icy eyes. “THEN I’LL THROW YOU OVER MYSELF!” he screeched, lunging for Adeline and grabbing her bruisingly tight in his arms.

Techie jumped out of his hiding spot and screamed, “HUX!”

Gaze locked with his brother, Hux very purposefully lifted the light Adeline over his head.

This only inflamed Hux more.
“I am not your father and I will never be,” he spat, thick blue vein in his neck throbbing. His fingers dug into his gloved palms.

And suddenly, like the eye of a storm, he fell quiet. A heavy, eerie silence.

Then, softly, mesmerizing, “Toss yourself over, Adeline.”

Techie’s eye nearly popped out of his head. “Shit, no!” he gasped, and Hux heard him. Leveled a serene, wan smile in Techie’s direction.