Chapter Text
Kylo was going to find the little fucker.
That piece of shit actually left him that piece of shit self-help book and bookmarked a chapter called “Your attitude is ruining your life (and everyone else’s)”.
He was going to kill him.
He didn’t want to go to him parents’ 40th anniversary. He hated taking the Amtrak all the way to Chicago; it was uncomfortable, full of crying kids, and long. It was only because his kid sister guilt tripped him that he was going.
He was already in a foul mood when he got on the train, all he wanted to do was pull out his laptop and watch Wall street or Silence of the Lambs till he fell asleep, but this little shit, this short, slick hair, scrawny little shit who was sitting beside him tapped him on the shoulder and recommended this self-help book, as if he was doing him a great favor. He claimed it was as good as the Da Vinci Code, like they were actually good books! He was going to meet this blind date in Chicago, as if those ever worked, and was going to identify the poor bastard through the book. Kylo was done talking, told the shrimp off, and had actually gotten to sleep when the train jerked him awake. It was his stop, the shrimp had left, and he had found the book left in front of him.
He was going to kill him.
He grabbed his messenger bag and the stupid book and took off after him. There was a crowd of people going into the station, and then there was another crowd in the station. He pushed his way through it all and ran through the main passage. He was in Union station’s main lobby and was scanning the crowds. He continued to push his way through the crowds, feeling really frustrated and out of breath.
“Where the fuck is he?”
“I apologize; I did not intend to arrive so late.”
Kylo whirled around, and who he saw took his breath away. The man was tall, only two inches shorter than Kylo, and he was gorgeous. His hair was a stunning red gelled back in a charming formal fashion. His suit was a deep blue, almost black, with a white dress shirt and dark red tie. His coast was a dark grey wool and matched that scarf he had elegantly draped across his shoulders. His eyes were intoxicating, a beautiful mix of green and blue, reflecting from the suit. His small, amiable smile punched Kylo in the gut and knocked the wind out of him.
“Did I keep you waiting long, Ben?”
Kylo felt blood rush to his face. His mind began to run a thousand miles an hour. How could such a sexy and beautiful man know his name? He usually felt appalled when people use that name, yet right then he was alright tattooing that name to his forehead if that meant this too-good-to-be-true-I-mean-are-you-photoshopped-from-my-dreams-and-porn-history man kept talking to him.
“You do prefer Ben, correct? Poe told me that you felt Mitaka was too formal, but I can call you Benjamin if you would like.”
Kylo opened his mouth but no sound came out. The redhead turned and gestured “Again, sorry for the wait. Some idiot threw themselves onto the tracks again, not that I care, but the lunatic caused so many delays.” He gave a small laugh.
Kylo couldn’t talk, he couldn’t take his eyes off him. He knew he was staring and that he should say something, but the redhead kept beating him to it.
“Also, what a creative way to find each other.” He pulled the self-help book out of his brief case. “Six Billion People and You. Poe gave you your copy too, right? He can be a little much sometimes, but he is a good friend.”
Finally, it all clicked in Kylo’s head. The little shit from the train. The book. The blind date. Kylo looked at the incriminating book in his hand like it was a third arm.
The man cocked his head. “Usually when one speaks to another person there is an exchange of some sort, a qui-por-qou, if you will.”
Kylo couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face.
The man returned his smile. “So, what are you waiting for?”
Kylo took a deep breath “…You. I-I was waiting for you.”
The redhead smiled again, and Kylo felt his knees go weak. “Perfect, then let’s get going. How do you feel about a beer and a stroll along Navy Pier?”
*** * *** * *** * ***
Kylo was grateful for the drink, it helped him ease into his ‘role’. Apparently, Ben was a 24-year-old tri-athlete who worked in the city, whatever that meant. He managed to just mumble over himself as the man made small talk.
“Well, Poe did not tell me more than that, to be honest.”
“Uh, yeah, same.” Kylo mumbled.
“But, I trust him. If he says we have things in common, then it is worth a try, wouldn’t you say?”
He gave another charming smile and Kylo swooned. “Yeah.”
Hux went into one of the bars and came back with two more beers, he then led them over to a table by the lake.
Kylo sat down and took the beer the man offered him. “How much? I can cover-“
“Please, it’s on me.” The man took a quick swig. “Ah, I’m sorry about Michael.”
Kylo almost chocked on his drink. “What?”
Hux nodded. “Sorry, Poe did tell me about that. What a massive cock.” Hux spat the words. “I can’t believe he would just cheat on you like that. You were together for 3 years, was it?”
Kylo frowned “Uh, yeah, it was…hard.”
Hux nodded. “I know. Brendol left me over a year ago. At least you two didn’t get married. The toad took half my savings but I got to keep the condo.”
Kylo narrowed his eyebrows “You are…divorced?”
“And much happier for it, yes.”
Kylo laughed. He liked how straightforward the man was, and his charming way of speaking.
The man laughed and began again. “But you know, that is all done and over with. Besides, what does it say in Six Billion People and You?”
Kylo took a chance and laughed “Fuck the past?”
The man almost spit out his drink. He swallowed and smirked. “I’ll drink to that.”
They toasted and finished their beers. The man stood and took Kylo’s empty bottle. Kylo stood as the man went to throw away their bottles and came back. Suddenly Kylo’s phone went off and he frantically dug around his pockets to find it. When he finally found it he saw Rey’s face smiling at him. He groaned. He was supposed to call her when he arrived, and he had promised to show up early to set up. Now she was worried and calling him.
“Oh no.” The redhead leaned over, pressing against Kylo’s shoulder as he also looked at the screen. “Is that your escape call? I am not doing so poorly, am I? Here, I will take care of this.”
He took Kylo’s phone and answered it. “Yes, hello Caller. We have met and are having a rather fine time, but thank you for checking in on us. Now, we will both be continuing our outing, and as I am not a psycho-path, you can rest assured no harm will come to him. We will now both be turning off our phones, and continue enjoying our evening. He will call you later with all the grueling details of tonight’s events.”
He then promptly turned off Kylo’s phone and then his own. “There, no distractions.”
Usually, Kylo would have punched the guy in his face. Kylo was half way fuming from the man taking his phone, answering it, talking to Rey that way, and turning his phone off, when the man seamlessly pulled his scarf off and wrapped it around Kylo. Again, Kylo was frozen and speechless, and he found he couldn’t hate it.
“There, it got rather chilly didn’t it?” He tied the knott tight and let his hand linger on Kylo’s shoulder. “We can’t very well stay outside. How do you feel about going downtown? I have a friend who owns a bar, very nice atmosphere and drinks. We can talk some more, get a couple of shots and such, if you’d like?”
“yea,” Kylo couldn’t out fast enough. “I’d like that.”
*** * *** * *** * ***
“Hey Hux!”
Kylo watched as a girl with a brunet bun on her head came by them at the bar, and patted ‘Hux’ on the shoulder.
“Evening” He nodded with a smile.
30 seconds later another waiter passed them by and slapped Hux on the back. “You shouldn’t be here!” he joked as he passed by. “Does she know?”
“No and it will stay that way.” Hux glared after the waiter who responded with a laugh.
Kylo raised an eyebrow. “You come here often.”
“I’ve known the owner since college, so I support her by coming here.” He waved at the bar tender. “Two of my regulars to start.” The bartender smiled back at him and began pouring them two shots.
They toasted and took their shots. The Tequila was warm as it washed down his throat and into his stomach, and Kylo chuckled as Hux turned a little red.
Hux felt his cheeks, and smiled sheepishly. “I have tolerance, but no control on my flushing I’m afraid.”
Kylo grinned “I wouldn’t worry about it; it makes you look cute.”
Hux shot him a glare. “I am not cute. I am intimidating.”
Kylo laughed loudly and Hux tapped the table for another round. As it arrived Hux pulled out a pocket notebook.
“Before we start these, let’s exchange the lists you recommended.”
“Lists?” Kylo stared as Hux opened his notebook and flipped the pages.
“It’s a fine idea, to get to know each other more.”
“Yeah,” Kylo said as he skimmed what was on Hux’s page. It was some sort of list of ‘favorites’. Kylo started to rummage through his bag and he pulled out a notebook he used for notes. He flipped to a list he made for the trip. Hux put his notebook in front of Kylo and took his.
Hux began to read Kylo’s. “Now let’s see here…’Be friendlier’,”
Kylo internally groaned. Rey had forced him to write some mantras for the party, so be more social for his parents’ sake. He was so embarrassed he swore he was going to die.
“‘Smile more’,” Hux looked at Kylo a little puzzled. “’Read about the ‘Force’’?”
“It’s a band.” Kylo blurted “they’re…new.”
He cursed himself, he forgot that he had written down some other things too.
Hux narrowed his eyebrows and nodded. ‘Ah, yes, of course.”
“They’re very fresh and young.” Kylo tried to look calm as he skimmed Hux’s list. “They’re, uh, my favorite band.”
Hux smiled “Yes, I think I’ve heard of them-“
“Oh this is cool,” Kylo interrupted “I also like spaghetti Bolognese. I love Italian food.”
Hux smiled. “It’s my guilty pleasure.”
“Mine too,” Kylo grinned widely as he continued to look at Hux’s list. His eyes stopped towards the top.
“Armitage Hux?”
Hux groaned “Please, take pity on me and never call me that, I loathe it.”
Kylo laughed. Another round of drinks came and Hux just as automatically paid for the drinks as he did before. Kylo felt his heart clench. He was having a great time. One of the best times he can remember in a long time. He glanced over to Hux, who smiled, his charm just as potent as the first time he saw him. Hux offered him the new drink.
He liked Hux. He really did. Kylo bit his lip and put his drink down.
“Hux, I have a confession to make.”
“So do I, Ben,” Hux also put his drink down“and if you do not mind I will go first.”
Kylo felt his stomach drop but he nodded and turned to face Hux.
Hux turned and looked Kylo in the eyes. “I’m sorry, but I have never heard of ‘The Force’.”
Kylo felt his jaw drop. “Huh?”
“I’m sorry. I just want to be honest with you, honesty is so important.”
“I agree,” Kylo said, feeling a little more confident “So I need to tell you-“
“I know I am quite older than you,” Hux said as he put a hand on Kylo’s “and that I am so engrossed in my work I have no idea what is popular today, but I did not want you to see me as someone too, well, boring for you. However, I feel that we have a genuine connection, Ben, don’t you?”
“Yes!” Kylo laughed, relief and guilt filling him.
“I think this connection is more important than if these lists match.” Hux gestured to the notebooks. “It is an excellent idea for breaking the ice, and I thank you, but there is more to it than if we both like the same food. I am really enjoying your company, Ben, and I simply want to get to know you better.... you have been so patient with me. Thank you for that. Wherever we end up tonight, I am so glad I got to meet you.
“Oh…” Kylo sighed, and he knew he was done for.
Hux looked sadly at the bar. “I do not know why I brought you here. It was stupid; we should go someplace else. Poe mentioned you like Bowling?”
Kylo grinned and leaned forward, eager to make Hux stop looking like that, “I love bowling; I am lethal at it.”
Sure enough, Hux smiled again and Kylo melted. “Then, shall we finish this last shot and hit the lanes?”
Hux raised his glass and looked almost a little shy, as if Kylo could in a million years refuse him.
Kylo forced a smile and swallowed his confession down. “Ok.”