Chapter Text
Ben
He was in the Throne Room. Snoke sat in front of him on the throne, lifting Hux up by the throat. Kylo was currently kneeling on the ground in front of both of them, Lightsaber feeling heavy in his hand.
Snoke's laughter filled the room, his grasp on Kylo's mind too strong to ignore. The darkside wanted to consume him. He heard Hux scream in pain. That's when Kylo finally broke.
Kylo ran up to Snoke, grabbing pieces of the floor to throw at him. Snoke threw Hux to the wall and then proceeded to emit lightning from his hands, hitting Kylo and knocking him backwards. Kylo caved and let the darkness consume him. Running up to Snoke he plunged his Lightsaber into his chest, Snoke still laughing all the way to the end.
Ben
He couldn't see anything, only red, drowning him. He had never felt so powerful and yet so helpless at the same time.
He tried looking around, trying to latch onto something, he felt so alone.
Ben
He looked around, squinting. He saw a small patch of light seeping through the red, a person holding out their hand. He didn't know how he got his legs to move but they did. The hammering in his head getting louder and louder with each step.
Upon closer inspection, the person was none other than Armitage, smiling back at him. It only made him move faster. Each step making him sway.
Finally making it, he looked up at Armitage smiling down at him. Ben took his hand then darkness fell upon him. There was a feeling of falling then his vision being painted in red again.
Slowly though, the red started to drain from his eyes. He was back in the Throne Room, his Master's dead body in front of him.
Ben looked down to notice his Lightsaber was scorched and it had burned his hand as well. His mind caught up with his body and suddenly he felt every bit of pain. He threw his lightsaber away, trying to keep his hand still. That was when his legs gave out.
Ben
When he opened his eyes there was the distinct smell of smoke, and it was hot. His mind immediately regained itself and all he could think about was Armitage. Hux. Where was Hux?
Ben turned his head to see a familiar outline of a body lying at the far end of the Throne Room, a large piece of metal covering most of it. He tried to get up, being overtaken by emotion and pain. He slumped to the floor again. He decided to crawl.
When Ben got there, he could see Armitage's face, half of his body covered by a large metal sheet. Ben used the last of the Force he had to lift the sheet, throwing it to the side. When that was done, he crawled on his side, placing his hand on Hux's face.
To his surprise, Hux opened his eyes, searching for something. Ben had never seen him this scared before. Finally, Hux's eyes landed on his own.
"Ky"? Hux tried to speak his name but was cut off by a pain in his stomach. Hux grimaced, not even wanting to look at his lower half, every breath hurt.
Ben only came closer to him. "Hey, shh, it's okay. He's dead. Talk to me through your mind."
"I Love You." Hux thought to him, his mind going off a thousand times a second.
Ben slumped forward, that was the first time- it was the first time he had truly heard the other man say it. (Or think it)
The ship groaned, shaking slightly. It was coming apart at the seams. If this was truly their last moment together, he would make it count.
Ben slowly sat up, trying to come up with some sort of plan, maybe there was an extra ship still in the docking bay, they had to try.
"I love you too. I'm going to get you out of here okay, we're going to be okay." Ben's voice was nowhere near reassuring, but Hux thought nothing.
Ben carefully stood up, looking down at Hux. The man was broken but Ben had to do this, not for himself but for his love.
He picked him up, Hux basically weighing nothing in Ben's arms, and they walked.
There was no one left on the ship, only the blaring siren still going off as Ben walked to the hangar. Ben knew Hux was awake, hearing his thoughts come out quieter and quieter.
"Cold." was the only recurring one he could make out. Ben pushed Hux's body closer to his, trying to ignore the grimace on Hux's face because of the movement. The last thing Ben needed was for Hux to go into shock and die.
They arrived at the empty hangar, no ship left in sight.
Ben staggered back, suddenly realizing this is where they would die.
He came close to the protective shield that led out into space. It was a beautiful view, looking out into the inky blackness, he wouldn't mind this being the last thing he ever saw.
Ben sat them down carefully, laying Hux in between his legs, holding him close to his chest.
"Talk to me, love." was the next thing he heard from Hux. Ben didn't even need to look down at him to know his eyes were open, looking out at the view. Hux wanted a distraction to pass the time, it was the only gift Ben could give him.
He thought back through his life. He didn't know what Hux wanted to hear but he tried his best. "The Jedi, back when I was training with Luke, he talked about a place after death, a place in the Force. When you pass, you are able to connect with others you have lost through the Force. It was just the beginning for them, helping young Jedi throughout centuries."
Hux shifted against him. Ben brought his hand around his shoulder, Hux's other hand coming up to grab his.
"Don't make me start to believe in this Force business now. I think I'm ready though......I'm glad you're here with me, I'm sorry." Hux thought at him, still looking out into space.
All Ben could think to say was 'Sorry' as well. He wished he could have had more time, wished he was a better partner for Hux, better Co-Comander, better friend, but now it was useless to think of the What If's.
The ship shifted again, ready to crumble in on itself. Ben only moved closer to Hux, one last time. He was scared, scared of losing, scared of the unknown, scared of all the time he had lost.
Ben closed his eyes for what he thought was the last time.