Chapter Text
“I am the farthest thing from cute,” Hux protested.
“Hey, no, that’s not true,” Poe said. “Sure, you’re a little severe, but you’ve got a lot of physical charm.”
Finn watched Hux’s mouth flap a few times soundlessly, before the redhead picked up the tea and sipped it. He blinked at the surprised expression that flashed over Hux’s face.
“This is high quality tea,” Hux said, surprise obvious in his tone.
“You don’t try to give a Wookie inferior products,” Poe said, “that’s no good for anyone. And like I said, the Resistance treats its members right. We may not have the most resources, but we spend them as best we can for everyone. That includes some better quality items to give people things to look forward to. What we do is hard, and anything that can be done to make everyone’s lives nicer helps us keep going.”
Hux stared at Poe as if every word were in some unknown language but continued to sip his tea.
“You should eat, too,” Poe said. He helped himself to one of the small muffins he’d brought and popped it whole into his mouth.
Hux looked over the food and then glanced back at Poe, appearing to watch him eat the muffin safely (and with obvious enjoyment). His eyes darted to the muffins, and he cut a piece off one with his fork, before trying it. He chewed slowly, small facial tics indicating he enjoyed the flavor.
“Good, right?” Poe said. “I try not to grab too many of those from the Mess. Try the eggs. They’re fresh. Our cooks have a small flock of birds that have traveled with us every time we’ve moved. They’re part of the Resistance, too.”
Finn read the expression on Hux’s face as ‘are you for real?’ and felt surprise when Hux speared some of the eggs and ate them, too.
Poe managed to smile even brighter. “So, we were hoping you might want to join us…you know, the Resistance. I’ll be happy to tell you all of the best parts about it.”
Mouth full, Hux couldn’t respond verbally to Poe’s words and he didn’t appear to change expression or move at all, but Finn realized Poe read something positive when his friend leaned in closer. (Or maybe that really was just Poe’s damned optimism again, not that Finn wasn’t grateful to see it.)
“So, first thing, we don’t hurt each other on purpose,” Poe said, voice low and intimate. “Especially not physically. We won’t lock you up or throw you against walls or reprogram your brain and personality for making a mistake.”
“How do you keep people in line?” Hux asked.
“Uh, that’s not really how we work,” Poe said. “We don’t force people to be part of the Resistance. It’s another great thing about us, even if it makes it harder to fight against the Order. But the people in the Resistance believe in what we’re doing. And people can and do leave if they need or want to.”
“I could leave,” Hux said.
Finn sneered at the words, but Poe appeared to take them seriously.
“You did some bad things, Hugs, so you can’t expect to just walk free, but we won’t make you help us, either,” Poe said. “There will be no torture or mind rape.” He swallowed hard but said the words evenly.
That did stir Hux, and he snarled, “I know you have multiple Force users here, including FN-2187.” “Isn’t it wonderful?” Poe asked, and Finn detected nothing except pride and joy in his voice.
“Wonderful?” Hux asked.
“Yes,” Poe said firmly. “They can carry on the tradition of the light side of the Force. Build a school, maybe, once everything is done with the Order.”
“You expect to win?” Hux asked.
“Yes,” Poe said, equally firmly.
Hux blinked at him a few times, obviously startled by the certainty, and then took a bite of the vegetarian sausage link. Then he appeared equally startled by the flavor of the link. “What is this?” he asked.
“Non-meat sausage,” Poe said. “Good, huh?”
Hux stared at the link for a moment and then took another bite.
“Variety, am I right? Finn says even officers don’t have much in the way of food options in the Order. Only Ren and his cronies.”
Hux made a face and said, “It was another example of their lack of commitment to the cause.”
“Well, we’re committed to keeping our people happy, as well as at their best to combat the Order,” Poe said, not at all deterred by Hux’s talk of commitment to the Order. “Commitment through contentment.”
Finn barely contained a snort that echoed Hux’s, but there was amusement in both.
“I know. It sounds ridiculous, but it works. All those yeas you served the Order, were you ever really happy?”
“Happiness was not the goal,” Hux said sharply.
“And that’s a problem, too,” Poe said, “cause wouldn’t it have helped?”
Hux paused a long time, his reaction unreadable. “I do not know,” he said finally.
“Here’s your chance to find out,” Poe said and stole a link off Hux’s plate.
“You are guaranteeing my happiness?” Hux asked snidely.
“Sure, if you want,” Poe said.
“What, Poe?” Finn muttered.
Hux obviously felt the same, staring at the pilot with unabashed incredulity. “And how exactly would you do that?”
“Well, it might take some time and experimentation,” Poe said. “Not to mention input from you. I’d want to know what makes you happy.”
Hux looked blank in a way Finn understood all too well. He’d known very little about happiness before his escape from the Order.
“That’s all right,” Poe said. “We’ll work on it together. Starting now.”
“Now?” Hux asked.
“True. We started when I brought you breakfast. That seems to have made you happy,” Poe said.
Hux glanced at his nearly empty plate.
“When as the last time you had real food?” Poe asked.
“There were occasional banquets when we established relationships with governments on new worlds being annexed into the Order,” Hux said, “but we needed to be careful what we ate. Our stomachs were not used to rich food. And I have not been to one of those since Ren amended to the Supreme Leader.”
“Yep. We learned that the hard way with a few of our recruits from the Order about the bland diet,” Poe said. “I didn’t bring you anything too heavy. The sweet toast was tempting, but a bad idea. Heavily battered and drenched in sugar and syrup. Finn loves it now, though.”
“That’s a breakfast food?” Hux demanded.
“A comfort food,” Poe said with a nod.
“Comfort,” Hux repeated.
“Another benefit to the Resistance- if you’re injured or sick, we’ll take care of and comfort you. You won’t be spaced or left to recover or die on your own. People will be there to check in on you and help you feel better. I’ll be there.”
“That’s supposed to make me feel better?” Hux asked, and Poe laughed.
“Ouch, man, that was cold,” he said, “but I’m glad to see you have a sense of humor.”
“It’s an honest question,” Hux said testily. “What could your presence possibly do to make me better?”
“It’s a scientific fact that people recover from injury and illness better with some friendly support,” Poe persisted. “I’d sit by your bedside and visit. Talk to you. Bring you gifts. Hold your hand.”
Hux looked down at his hands and then darted a glance at Poe’s hands. “How does holding my hand help me?”
“Oh, Hugs, in so many ways,” Poe said, voice dropping a register. With a slow, exaggerated motion, he reached out a hand toward one of Hux’s own.
Finn straightened a little, watching Hux’s reaction with extra attention.
The former General watched the approaching appendage like a snake about to strike. Everything went still, his breath so shallow his chest hardly moved. His wide eyes fixated on Poe’s hand, even as the pilot’s fingers touched ever-so-gently against the back of his hand. And then he exhaled sharply, withdrawing fast.
“Do you not like to be touched?” Poe asked, concerned. “You merely have to say so, and I’ll make sure people know.”
Hux shook himself and said, “I don’t know. People don’t touch in the Order…except to inflict pain.”
“That tracks,” Poe said, even as Finn nodded from behind the opaque wall. The sheer kindness of so many people outside the Order still boggled him sometimes. “But it’s not the way we are here. It’s not the way the majority of the galaxy works, either.”
Hux fidgeted subtly in his seat and glanced at the hand Poe had extended before. The pilot reached out again, carefully, as one might extend a hand for an unfamiliar lothcat to sniff. The comparison fit, as Hux still side-eyed the appendage like it would strike him at any moment. But of course, Poe’s fingers just brushed over the knuckles of Hux’s right hand.
“Oh.” The sound seemed involuntary from Hux’s lungs, punched out of him by surprise.
“Yeah?” Poe asked and more deliberately ran a finger over each knuckle. “May I try holding on now?”
Hux stared at Poe like he was a difficult puzzle that needed solving, before inclining his head slightly.
Finn watched his friend encase the pale, slender fingers of Hux’s right hand with the bulkier, darker ones of his left. His breath caught in his lungs unnoticed, as he gauged Hux’s response to the touch. And then he let it out in a rush when Hux relaxed and blinked slowly, almost sleepily, at Poe. He thought the man might even have smiled a very little bit.
“Yeah,” Poe said and slid his chair closer to Hux, sitting in a smooth move. “Feels good.”
Hux swallowed but didn’t deny the words.
“See, we like to be friendly this way in the Resistance,” Poe said. “Holding your hand isn’t something that would have to be reserved for when you’re ill or injured. Nor are hugs. Or sleeping in the same bed.”
“You all sleep together!?” Hux demanded.
Finn barely suppressed a burst of laughter.
“Well, it’s not unheard of,” Poe admitted, “but that’s not what I meant. I was referring to cuddling. Sharing warmth and space with another person without sexual intimacy. In some ways, it’s more intimate than sex.”
“So, you all sleep together,” Hux repeated, but in a different tone.
“Groups of us do sometimes,” Poe agreed. “You could be part of it.”
Color flooded Hux’s cheeks, and he said quietly, “When I was small…” He trailed off.
Poe waited patiently for Hux to continue.
“…I think I might have slept with my mother,” he finished almost too low to hear.
“A good memory,” Poe said, voice gentle in a way that Finn saw Hux respond to. Hux as Finn had known him seemed absent in these moments. He wondered how much the Order’s betrayal shook Hux’s beliefs. Did Hux have anything left without the Order? Maybe that was why he was willing to hear out what the Resistance could and would offer him.
“My father said I was weak because of her,” Hux said.
“Banthashit,” Poe said forcefully.
Finn shared his recoil with Hux at the word and the emotion behind it.
“Your father didn’t know what he was talking about.” Poe dismissed the elder Hux with a firmness that made contradiction feel impossible.
And again, Finn saw Hux respond positively.
“I knew that. I know that. He was a fool,” Hux said.
“But it’s hard to shake off cruelty,” Poe said. “I know. Not that I know what you experienced, but I understand the power of words. Especially of cruel things said over and over to you. If you ever do want to talk to anyone about it…that’s something else we’re good at, listening to each other’s troubles and helping deal with them as best we can. We have professionals to help, too. I’ll listen.”
“Is there anything you wouldn’t do?” Hux asked.
“Not much,” Poe said with a smile and a playful wink.