A Lesson to Learn

Chapter 12

It was Kylo's turn to roll his eyes now. Hux was going over the same lines he always did, the lesser demon was almost as stubborn as Leia, and that was saying something. Lilith was more than capable of running things and she did well under pressure, so Kylo knew she was probably still handling the situation well, even if she didn't enjoy it. Hux was just hoping to somehow guilt Kylo into coming home. As if I have a choice, he thought bitterly.

Hux and Lilith had both tried begging Leia to end his punishment before, and they'd even tried to plead Kylo to do so, before coming to the realization that Kylo had no personal say in the time frame of his punishment, forced to play a part until his mother's cryptic words came to fruition.

"You know the rules almost as well as I do by this point. The ever mysterious "right" person has to come along and save this Prince of Darkness from his boring existence as a slave." Kylo muttered bitterly, exhaling deeply.

"Well, you can't blame us for trying, Ren."

"I wasn't." Kylo bit out, back to his moody self.

Making a move to finally sit down on the bed next to Kylo, Hux looked over at him and placed a hand on the King's knee. Kylo moved away from his touch, causing Hux's hand to drop to the bed as Hux sighed, The Ruler of the Underworld had never been one for physical touch - even when he could benefit from a comforting pat or two. "Alright, well. Do you want to talk about the girl?"

Kylo looked away from him, not wanting to voice his feelings out loud yet. They were too raw. Too powerful. And giving them a voice would make them all too real and he knew that when that happened he would want to act on them. But he couldn't. Not yet. Not when he wasn't absolutely sure Rey felt the same way. He would never forgive himself if he scared her away by coming on too strong.

"Ren. You obviously summoned me for a reason. I can feel it rolling off of you from your force signature. You're wrestling with some powerful emotions, brother mine."

"How do you know when you're in love?" Kylo asked quietly, moving his head to look back in Hux's direction but not meeting his eyes. Hux was one of the closest things that Kylo had to a friend and yet this was the first time he had ever been vulnerable before the lesser demon. Kylo was not usually an emotional being, but lately he was feeling sensitive and hyper aware of all his feelings. It scared him and exhilarated him all at once. Maybe it was time to let down his guard and get some advice for once in his life.

If Hux was shocked at the question, he didn't show it. Kylo could feel a wave of understanding come from Hux, tuning in to his specific frequency to gauge the red-head's reactions. "You're in love with her, aren't you? That's why you claimed her. Does she know? Does she know who you are?"

Kylo's silence was answer enough as Hux carried on, "You can't stay with her, you know. Once your curse is broken you have a kingdom to return to and a job to do. An important job. One that we depend on you for - one that the mortal realm depends on you for."

"I know what I can and can't do, Hux." Kylo hissed, seething. He knew that a forever with Rey would be hard to secure if he broke his curse. He knew the duties he had as The Devil, knew his responsibilities to his species, to the supernatural world, and the moral population. Kylo didn't like the demon before him pointing this out, however, even if it was the truth. But more and more lately Kylo had been struggling with his designation. Knowing that if he could drop everything, even his troublesome antics or the job he so loved, he would. He would do that all for Rey and more.

"Anyway, it's not like I can free myself. We've been over that. Leia was explicit about the fact that when the right person came along then I would be freed somehow. What if she's it?" Kylo questioned, unable to hold back his train of thought as he rambled on, "But I don't want to be freed. I like being bound to her. Is that weird? What if that's what Leia meant? That I would be free because I was with her and it wouldn't be an obligation, even if I was bound forever?"