Chapter Text
General Leia Organa-Solo watched her son as he cradled Armitage Hux's limp frame, observed how violent sobs shook his wide and strong body and wild howls escaped his clenched throat.
Whoever else looked at her, within the small gathering, would see a stoic figure of an old woman, with her hands clasped behind her back, her uniform worn with pride.
But when someone like Rey glanced at her from up close, she could see how Leia's throat moved just barely, out of sight, and a glint appeared in her eyes, and to a bystander it could seem like she was simply bothered by the relentless sun.
Both Finn and Poe, usually chirpy folk, stood firmly in place, with their heads lowered, and Finn knew it'd be hard to look Ben in the eyes for a long while.
Luke was always in the background, away from the scene, and he will have to work on forgiving himself for forcing Ben Solo to remain frozen in place, until the deed was done.
And they all waited till there was nothing left in Ben, aside from shaky whimpers and anger, and when Hux's body was as cold as the night.
He was in his room, trashing the place until there was nothing left in it from so little that was there to begin with.
He felt empty too, and perhaps that was what this whole mess was about.
Finally, he sat on the floor, with Hux's heavy coat in his arms, desperately scavenging whatever was left of Hux's scent on it.
He was grateful that he managed to salvage it, keep it out of their touch and minds.
It was late at night when he pulled up his heavy eyelids, feelinga familiar presence lingering in his room.
"Who's there?!" he asked, as he scrambled upwards, his chest heavy.
He eased up when he saw that the room he occupied was empty.
But there was still a hint of hope in him...
"I never believed in such things" he heard a familiar voice, and his head spinned. He must've been tired, hearing things. "And yet... here I am, somehow."
His heart hammered.
"Hux..?" he asked, unsure.
And yet when a blueish apparition of Hux's frame stood near him, with his hands clasped behind his back and his head held high, he knew it was real, as distorted and jittery as it looked, like a wounded animal.
Of course, Hux's life ended just a few hours ago.
He wanted to say something, but all the words that he could think of dried in his throat. Nothing seemed good enough.
"You held me, Ren" Hux's Force ghost smiled, as he glanced at the mess of a man under his feet. "I came here to thank you for that" he lowered himself and crouched before him, his form distorted further, with his hand extended as he reached out to touch Ben's cheek.
If he was still alive, he could feel the heavy tears that rolled down to his lover's jawline.
"In fact, you held me so tight that for a moment I believed my chest would breathe again" Hux's expression eased up. "Cry, if you must. I won't be here for long. But I'll be with you. You'll feel me, Ren" he brushed his thumb against Ben's cheek.
"Hux..." Ben whispered hoarsely. "They had no right! They-" Hux shook his head and placed his ghostly finger against Ben's shaky, plump lips.
"They had every right, Ren. I took this from all those people as well. It had to be done, to fix this rotten galaxy. And now it's your job to rebuild it. You need to know that I'll be by your side. You need to be strong" Ben pulled his hand up at that, the trembling thing, and tried to press it against the edge of Hux's cheek. And even when he felt no warmth or no solid surface despite sliding past the shiny edges, Hux leaned into the touch.
"But I want to do it with you by my side, I want to feel your touch again, I want..." Ben let out a pathetic whine as he realized that he'll never have those things and there was no point in begging.
"You will. In your dreams, I'll come to you" Hux sounded certain, firm. "Look out for me there, Ren..." his form started to fade, and Ben realized what sort of strong will it took for a non-Force user to appear in such way in front of him, just hours after they perished in this world.
What sort of need Hux must've felt himself to be with Ben one more time...
"Hux, please..." his fingers bent slightly and trembled viciously. "...please, don't go..." he felt small, weak, his voice barely a whimper.
"Be strong, Ren" Hux whispered, as he leaned in to plant a kiss on Ben's lips, and when he opened his hazel eyes again, Hux was gone.
And Ben collapsed onto the floor again, his sobs disappearing into Hux's coat, the only physical connection they had left...
But now Ben knew, after Hux's reassurance, that he'll have enough strength to pick himself up and that his tears will dry.
They both were extraordinary in that regard, and he'll make sure that Hux's death won't be in vain.