Chapter Text
“Would you believe me if I told you that I’d very seriously considered putting them both down before they awoke?” Hux chuckled out, as if he wasn’t discussing killing the two people he loved more than anything in the world. To add to it, he was telling the tale of this monumental turning point in his life to the mother of one of the people whose lives had been at his mercy. Leia looked entirely nonplussed as the Admiral admitted that he’d wanted her son dead not so long ago. None of what he said seemed to surprise her.
“I believe it.” She muttered, leaning in to consider her next move in the game of Chatta-ragul that he’d set out for her on the balcony of a newly constructed building. They had come to secure a new planet for the burgeoning Resistance headquarters, and Admiral Hux had arrived to make a rare planetside appearance in a show of support. As he looked out over the balcony they were seated in, he saw a forest that reached farther than his eye could see. Another planet filled with trees, wildlife, and little in the way of artistic or political interest.
The Resistance seemed to favor these less civilized environments. Or perhaps it was just their leader, the esteemed General in front of him who was now reaching to move her Scout piece forward on the game board, that found them appealing.
It was a careful move. Hux studied it, his lip curling downward as if he disapproved of her being so cautious with him.
“Of course, I was a different man, then.” He breathed out airily, as he considered how best to get around her Scout. In the end, he chose a bolder move, allowing her the option to take one of his Scouts with her own in order to move her piece in dangerous territory.
“Is that right?” Her eyes were only focused on the board now, and she sounded almost distracted - but Hux knew better. Her answer was a small dig at him, as she continued her tirade of mistrust. He grinned, until she took her turn - moving yet another Scout on the opposite side of the board, instead of taking his piece.
What was she playing at?
“Your son and Rey mean everything to me,” He told her, popping her first Scout off since she hadn’t taken advantage of his opening. “I did not know love before them. I should think you would appreciate the transformative power of love. So yes, General.” He watched her second Scout move forward again. Another safe move. “I will never be the same again.”
If he was judging correctly, his answer pleased her just enough to make her lips twitch. She gave him a quick nod and then tried to focus on the game once more. “I didn’t like the man you were, Admiral.” She told him as he pondered his next move. “So I’m glad to hear it.”
Hux’s knight moved past her scout, claiming it as his own and leaving himself vulnerable. Dangerous. But he was there to protect the Empress, who hadn’t yet moved. “I hoped you would be. Our lives are intertwined quite thoroughly now. I want you to be able to trust that I have the best of intentions for the Resistance, and for your son, one day.”
Leia’s hand reached for a piece and then paused. She was considering all of her options, now that the Knight had been put into play. A world of possibilities had just opened to her, and it was hard to focus on what Hux was trying to say to her when her mind tried plotting the best path to victory. So as she furrowed her brow in thought, all she said in response to Hux’s heartfelt plea was a distracted, “Mm.”
Hux watched her fingers wiggle as she considered moving her Empress into play. All pretense of conversation dropped as he went silent, allowing her this time to consider her move. She looked up at him for one brief moment and saw absolute neutrality in his expression.
“You have quite the poker face, Admiral,” Leia said, as she placed her fingers down on her Empress token. “You’ll have to forgive my hesitance to trust you. It may take some time.”
She slid her Empress token in front of the Knight, and used the extra move that the Empress granted to move her Scout token one space and block the Knight from escaping. “Check.”
Hux’s expression softened. His elbow rested on the table, and he pressed his chin into his hand. “General, I would have it no other way.” He told her, as his lips pursed to fight a victorious smirk. She watched this change in him, and tried to interpret why he looked like he’d already won.
Although in many ways unrelated to their game, she knew he had.
“Why do you look so happy?” She finally asked him with suspicion.
He looked over the edge of the balcony, where he could hear rustling down in the trees. He couldn’t see them, but he knew they were out there, enjoying their time in the sun. And waiting for him to join them.
His idle fingers took his Empress off of her perch and moved it across from the knight. Her presence gave the Knight one extra move, which he used to bounce over the Scout that blocked him, and was therefore able to block the Empress. This effectively ended the game, as no piece could stop the Knight from its next move, which was to take the Empress himself.
“Why shouldn’t I be happy? I have everything I never knew I wanted, and an entire lifetime to enjoy it. All things considered, I think things have worked out-”
“All according to plan?” Leia finished for him, as she glared with disdain at her captured Empress. Hux followed her gaze, and gave her a sympathetic smile as she reached out to knock the Empress over. Then he shrugged, and took out a cigarette, lighting it. He offered Leia one, and put away the box when she refused. Then he placed the cigarette to rest loose between his lips, and began to set the table for one more game.
“I’ve achieved peace in our time.” He proclaimed, as he stood her Empress back up and put it in its place. Then he took a long, drawn-out drag, and blew the smoke out over the balcony. “Planned or not, I will reap the rewards I have sown.”
Leia looked like she was considering getting up and walking away, but she couldn’t help it. Her curiosity got the better of her, so she moved her first piece, and tried again. “And what reward might that be?” She murmured distractedly.
Hux’s eyebrows lifted. “The only reward worth fighting for,” He told her, fully aware of just how powerful his next words would be to the woman who embodied this concept to every life she touched. “Hope.”