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Hux fails to show up on the bridge, which is unheard of, so Kylo plans to investigate. He finds out that the general informed Mitaka via datapad that he is unwell before his shift started. Mitaka accepted this without question and delayed the news to the bridge. And although the lieutenant and the crew don't seem too concerned, Kylo highly doubts that the workaholic would call in sick rather than meeting a miserable end while exercising his duty.
He decides to visit him in his quarters, and in the moment he forces the doors open, all his questions are answered.
A delicious scent is in the air, making Kylo's mouth water, and his pupils go wide.
Who would have thought? The snarking, proud general is an omega.
He finds Hux in his bedroom, splayed on the covers in little clothing, skin covered in a fine sheen of sweat, breathing fast and shallow.
He doesn't react when Kylo enters, doesn't lift his head, so tired and exhausted is he. Maybe he didn't even notice him.
The knight steps closer and is hit by the now even more prominent scent.
A wave of compassion and fondness and above all the need to protect and possess washes over him as his eyes rove over the still, delicate form of Hux.
He walks up beside the bed, kneels down, and lays a cool, soothing hand on Hux's forehead. Startled, the general's eyes fly open and focus on Kylo in confusion
"Ren? what..."
His voice is so untypically thin, a stark contrast to his usual commanding barking. It's endearing, really.
"Shhhh. It's fine. I am here now. I can help."
"Help?"
Hux's eyebrows crease.
"... don't need.... help."
Speaking seems to exhaust him, and even as he speaks, a violent shudder makes Hux's muscles cramp and he curls in on himself.
"Need... medical unit... Nnnngh. Call help."
Ruefully, Kylo draws his hands through Hux's hair, admiring the vibrant strands.
"Oh Hux, don't you know that only an Alpha can help you now? Is this your first heat?"
The thought is alluring.
"Don't worry, dear. I am here now. You don't need to be afraid anymore."
Hux frowns, a familiar sight, but as the cramps subside, he is too weak to speak again and just lies limply under Kylo's petting hand, accepting the comfort and coolness with now closed eyes.
Kylo is already achingly hard, and all his Alpha instincts scream to him to claim and breed his beautiful little Omega, but he is forcing himself to be patient, to do this right.
Before he starts anything, he goes to the bathroom and wets a washcloth with cold water, then returns.
He runs it over Hux's heated body, cleaning away the sticky sweat and soothes the tortured body.
Hux lets out a long, shuddering exhale and leans into the release from the surely unbearable heat.
He enjoys the procedure until Kylo's hands reach for his undershirt and boxers.
Hux makes a weak sound of protest and grasps Kylo's wrists with uncoordinated fingers.
The Alpha husches him and gently pries Hux's hands from his own.
It's okay. Hux doesn't need to feel ashamed.
He removes Hux's clothing and resumes his task, all the while drinking in the sight before him. The white lilli skin, the lightly toned chest. That Hux is still flacid gives him pause for a moment. Aren't Omegas supposed to be in high arousal during their heat? But he can't be sure. He's never been with an Omega in heat before, and all his knowledge about the process comes from probablx highly exaggerated stories told by drunken men.
When he is done, Hux is calm again and breathing a bit more freely. Satisfied with his work, Kylo then removes his own clothing.
"We will have to build you a proper nest, he murmures, as he climbs into the bed to his sweet Omega."
"Nest?"
Hux mumbles, too far gone to process the thought at the moment.
"Yes, a beautiful one. Only the best for my Omega."
At these words, Hux looks up in alarm and even more disturbed when he sees Kylo's nakedness, but another cramp distracts him and makes him howl in pain.
In an attempt to calm his Omega, Kylo pulls him closer, gently pets his hair and litters his neck with small kisses until he feels the trembling body go slack again.
"It's okay, it's okay. I am here now; it's okay."
Hux tries to speak, but whatever he says is unintellgible.
At that point, Kylo's arousal is near unbearable, and he he starts to get a little fiercer. He rolls Hux onto his back, lets his hands roam over the general's skin, covers it with kisses and gentle bites, and rolls his hips against the other man.
Hux is strangely unparticipating, not moaning and mewling, like Kylo expected from the stories. He is only lying motionlessly, staring at Kylo with glazed over ocean eyes. But he is probably too exhausted. First, Kylo has to make the heat stop being so hard on his poor Omega; later, Hux will be more enthusiastic.
His kisses go down, down, down, until he kneels between Hux's legs, and a finger brushes Hux's rim, making the Omega tense before collapsing into the sheets again. Huh. Kylo expected there to be slick, but Hux is dry, and the muscles down there tightly shut his entrance.
Maybe a side effect after years and years of taking suppressants?
This won't do. Kylo gets up and searches the nightstand, the the cupboard in the bathroom before he finds what he's been looking for. He returns with a bottle of lube to his precious Hux and coats his fingers with the substance. He takes his time with the stretching, even if the delay tests his patience. First one, then two, then three fingers, making Hux shudder and squirm on the bed.
"Ren... a medical unit... please."
Ire wells up in Kylo for a moment. Doesn't Hux see that he is helping him right now? But he pushes it down immediately. His Omega is hurt and confused and trying to get help from a familiar source. He will soon come to see that his Alpha is a much better medicine.
When he sinks into Hux, it feels like heaven. His world narrows down on Hux and only Hux and he kisses him fiercly, even if the lips beneath his don't kiss him back.
He takes up a stady rhythm, trying to remind himself to be gentle and not to hurt his Omega in any way.
Hux looks up at him with faint confusion, looking lost, as if he isn't sure of his surroundings anymore. Kylo tries to soothe the expression away with kisses to the corner of the mouth, the forehead, cheekbones, nose. Eventually, Hux's head falls to the side and he watches at nothing with cloudy eyes.
The now exposed scent gland takes all of Kylo's attention. It is alluring, and before he even knows what he's doing, his head dips down, and his teeth sink into the offered flesh. Hux tenses and hisses, but nothing more.
Kylo laps the plood away, almost purring with the knowledge that Hux is now truly his. The thought makes his hips shudder, then his entire body tenses, and he spends his seed deep into Hux.
His knot takes time to go away, and for the entire time, he holds Hux close and rubs himself against his Omega to mark him with his scent. After he pulls out, he notices that Hux has fallen asleep. He pulls his back against his own chest, places a protective arm over his mate, and closes his eyes. Deeply content with the world and himself.
***
When Kylo wakes, Hux is gone.
Immediately, Kylo jolts up in bed, heart racing, thoughts swirling.
He calms down for a moment and tells himself that Hux is probably just in the bathroom. Or getting a caf in the kitchen.
But a fast search and double search of the quarters proofs: Hux isn't here, and at once, Kylo goes into a frenzy.
Did someone steal his Omega away?
Wouldn't he have woken up when someone had entered the room?
Where is Hux?
Is Hux safe?
Hux needs his Alpha.
Hux, Hux, Hux!!!
A soft 'pling' directs his focus to his datapad, which is lying discarded on the ground, together with his clothes.
It isn't often that he receives messages, but when he does, they're usually from-
He scrambles to get to get the device, and indeed:
0700 hours, General Hux:
The Supreme Leader requires your presence in the holo chamber.
Initial relief about hearing from Hux is replaced by confusion. His master? What does he...
He doesn't mind that Kylo has taken an Omega, does he?
And he wouldn't punish Hux for being a distraction to Snoke's pupil, would he??
Worry is filling every fibre of Kylo's body, and he stumbles into his clothes in record time, then runs down corridors and hallways until he comes to a halt in front of the doors to the holo chamber.
He takes a moment to collect himself, and then he enters.
His master is looming as a giant hologram in the room, but his gaze is only resting on Hux. Hux is standing stiff and proper in his uniform and greatcoat and with his hands on his back in his usual at-attention stance.
Why isn't he in bed??
He shouldn't be up and about; he is an Omega in heat and should be resting in his rooms. With his Alpha, where he is safe.
But what is even more upsetting is that Hux isn't even turning to meet him. His eyes are trained on the Supreme Leader and nothing else.
What is happening?
Snoke turns his head from the general to where Kylo is standing.
"My pupil."
He greets in his ancient voice.
"Come here."
Uncomfortable and nervous, Kylo crosses the hall until he comes to stand beside Hux. He tries to meet his eyes, but Hux is stubbornly looking up to his Supreme Leader, who is leaning back in his seat.
"Now that Kylo Ren has arrived, general, would you repeat what you have told me?"
It isn't a question.
Hux nods curtly and speaks in the emotionless voice he always uses in his briefings.
"Thank you, Supreme Leader.
I wouldn't bother you with such a matter in a normal case, but I think problems with Lord Ren should be brought to your attention."
Problems?
Kylo tries to get a read on Hux's mind but finds the man's mental defences raised and impenetrable.
At a nod from Snoke, Hux goes on.
"The Order has a strict set of rules when it comes to rape, but of course none of these apply to Lord Ren, who is an independent part of the organisation -"
There is more, but Kylo doesn't listen anymore. His is staring with open horror at the general.
Rape.
Rape?
Rape!!!
Did Hux truly think what happened just a few hours ago was rape??
But that's impossible! Kylo just did what every Alpha would have done to cease an Omega's suffering. They mated. It wasn't - couldn't -
"- presume to make demands, but I do recommend rut blockers to prevent such a thing from happening again - be it to me or another crew mem-"
"It wasn't, Hux! It wasn't rape! Why would you say that?!?"
For the first time that day, Hux's eyes flit over to Kylo, and the cold detachment in them almost makes Kylo stumble backwards.
"It wasn't... You were in heat!
I had to... Or you would have been hurt!"
Kylo latches onto this hope. He knows for a fact that heats without an Alpha can end lethal for an Omega. And if Hux's suppressants failed, the same fate could have fallen upon him without Kylo's intervention.
"General, my pupil seems to be confused. Please explain the situation to him."
Hux now fully turns to Kylo, face still set in stone, tone lightly bored while he recites his speech.
"Lord Ren, I think it has become obvious that you are not correctly informed of the way ones designation is handled in the Order. We believe that no potential should be wasted, so, regardless of first or secondary sex, everyone is accepted into our rows.
Alpha and Omega troopers and officers are required to take heat and rut suppressants, as well as scent blockers to prevent complications in the exercise of service. However, these measures aren't fail safe and repeatedly and innevitably cause distractions and problems, which is why Omegas and Alphas that are promoted into a high-ranking position are put under even stricter regulations. Alphas are required to take an additional hormone treatment that will keep their testosterone level low.
Omegas are asked to let the reproductive organs be removed or defunctioned with surgery. Though advantageous, complete removal harbours many risks, which is why most Omegas opt for the second option.
That is also the decision I made in case you wondered.
The concerned Omega still has to take suppressants because heats still take place, even though they are now non-lethal and the Omega is permanently unable to reproduce.
Every some years, such an Omega is put under "heat leave," a planned time in which they will be off their suppressants and a heat will take place. The positive health effects of this measure are proven.
The leave is announced one month prior and remarked in the person's file. Files you have access to, I might add."
Hux's mouth twists into a cold, unpleasant smile.
"As you can see, Lord Ren, your help was neither necessary nor wanted, as I communicated repeatedly."
Kylo doesn't know how to react. Half an hour ago, he had thought he was mated. Now, he is told that he is a fool and a rapist.
He is hit by an intense wave of self-loathing, and he thinks he sees a slight smile form on his master's lips.
"Thank you, general, for your explanation."
Snoke peaks, and Hux straightens up again, eyes leaving Kylo like a dirty piece of junk at the side of the road.
"Of course, I can't grant your request."
Snoke muses while his sceletal fingers drum on his throne.
"I won't have my pupil's emotions and powers diminished by some sort of suppressants. But I can promise you this - "
And his eyes impale Kylo with their intensity.
"Kylo Ren will not again misbehave like this towards you. Because he knows that I have need of competent generals, and because he knows what punishment awaits him should he ignore my command."
Kylo lowers his head.
"Of course, master."
"Now, if you don't have anything of real importance for me, general?"
"No, I believe I have sent everything to you with my latest report."
A nod, then the hologram flickers out.
For a moment, neither of the two remaining men move or speak.
Then, Hux's boots sound deafeningly from the walls as he turns and strides towards the exit.
"Hux, wait!"
"I think everything there is to say has already been said."
The general doesn't even turn to him, so Kylo hurries after him, reaching for his bicep.
"Hux, I'm s-"
A greatcoat flutters, Hux whirls around, and the end of a blaster pistor is pointed between Kylo's eyes.
"Don't! Touch! Me!"
Hux snarls witch so much viciousness and hatred that Kylo feels the dark side humm happily around the general. Hux's formerly emotionless face is contorted with rage, his teeth bared, and his dead eyes have cracked to reveal the inferno behind them.
The Alpha's hand falls to his side. He swallows.
"I just need you to know... I'm sorry."
Hux lets out a sharp, barking laugh.
"Ooooh. You're sorry?
Well, then everything is perfectly fine, isn't it?"
"No, just... I"
"Just shut! Up!"
Hux bites out through gritted teeth, and the knuckles on his weapon turn white.
"If I have to hear one more apology from you, I'm going to shoot you dead; consequences be damned."
Kylo searches for the right words and finds none. His shoulders slump, and he takes a step back, trying to appear as non-threatening as possible.
Hux exhales slowly. The fire in his eyes hasn't diminished, but he is trying to regain his composure, and slowly, the familiar wall of ice is replacing it.
The general holsters his gun, then stumbles.
Kylo notices that Hux is covered in sweat again; his breathing is hard, his feet unsure on the ground.
The Alpha hadn't noticed it before because there was no scent of distress (scent blockers again?), but Hux is still battling his heat.
"Should I, uhm. Help you back to your quarters?"
The general throws one last, disdainful glance at the Alpha, then turns on his heels and makes his way out on slightly unsteady feet.
"I believe you have helped quite enough, Ren."
The same day, Kylo requests to be transferred onto another ship.