Poe held his breath, hoping to draw as little attention to himself as possible. Hux had woken him up as he had every morning – violently – before moving to the damned display case of knives next to his desk. He’d watched Hux grab a particularly nasty one and move to sit on the couch.
…Where he’d been for the past hour, twirling the knife in his hands and staring off into the distance at nothing.
It unsettled Poe, to say the least.
He didn’t necessarily want the torture, obviously, but it was something real and routine and expected he could hold on to. It was the uncertainty that scared him more than anything.
So, he held himself still and tried to make himself small without rattling his chains too much. Maybe if the General spent enough time lost in thought he’d be called away before he could hurt Poe that day.
Poe couldn’t help flinching when Hux shifted in his seat, turning to look at him with fresh anger in his eyes.
“I feel,,” Hux seethed, his teeth catching on his bottom lip as he chewed through each word, “like your acquisition was made under false pretenses, pilot.”
There was no need for Poe to respond; his small expression of confusion was obvious.
Hux continued. “You see, when I created the bounty for you, I was under the impression that you had value. Specifically, to a certain member of First Order leadership. Well, it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen any hint of interest from this member of First Order leadership. This makes me very, very cross, pilot. I don’t like people wasting my time or my credits. It appears you’ve wasted both.”
Against his better judgment, Poe couldn’t help but cough out a laugh and with it, the first words he’d spoken days. “Hey buddy, I never asked for this. You came after me. And I have no idea what you’re kriffing talking about.” He was proud of himself for not sounding as broken as he truly was.
Hux narrowed his gaze at him and held the blade still in his lap.
“Ben Solo. Tell me about your relationship with him.”
If he hadn’t been chained tightly, that name could’ve toppled Poe over. He hadn’t heard it in years, and for good reason. Poe held silent as he inched back against the wall.
“So there was something between you two, wasn’t there. I see.” Hux’s expression remained guarded and neutral, though from across the room Poe could still tell Hux’s knuckles were turning white as they gripped the knife handle.
Swallowing hard, he dared to speak again. “Get fucked.”
In a flurry Hux was on his feet and standing too close to Poe, his chest nearly bumping against his prisoner’s. Poe couldn’t see the blade but he felt it grazing up and down the length of his forearm.
“You know I could just make you tell me,” Hux growled. Poe could feel the knife pressing harder against his skin, nearly breaking it.
Poe laughed in his face again, regardless of the consequences. “And when has that ever worked? With all due respect, General, you’re a sadist but you’re a shit interrogator. The only time the First Order has ever gotten anything from me was when your cheap, Jedi drop-out pulled it straight out of my brain. Looks like you two aren’t on the best of terms, so I’m not exactly worried.” He could see the line he’d crossed miles behind him, and he steeled himself for the blow he knew was coming.
Instead, Hux pulled away, setting his blade on his desk and turning back to address the pilot. His smile was gone, but so was his anger.
“Let’s make a deal, then. You have information I want,” he explained, crossing his arms in front of him. “What are your terms?”
Poe scoffed. “Let me go.”
“No chance, but I respect you starting high. I don’t blame you for that. I can give you an hour alone, and I’ll go easier when I return.”
“You want to know something deeply personal and you’re offering an hour break in return? I say again: get fucked.”
The General chuckled at the pilot, stepping closer and placing a hand on the wall near the side of Poe’s head. “A day of rest. And longer in the bacta tank after our next session.”
“How about no more ‘sessions’, ever.”
“No.”
“A week free, then.”
“No.”
“Five days.”
“Three.”
“Four days.”
“Three.”
Poe sighed. “Three days of rest, better bacta, and the chance to move around on my own, today. I can’t even remember the last time I was able to –“
“You’ve been here with me for 39 days, pilot,” Hux volunteered, a smile pulling at the edges of his lips. “It appears we have our terms. Do you accept?”
Hux waited for Poe to nod in approval before calling a familiar service droid to have Poe released from his chains. The pilot nearly fell under his own weight as he was let go, steadying himself against the wall as he struggled to gather his bearings. He glanced down at his forearm and was genuinely surprised to see the blade hadn’t left any real damage.
“I suppose a shirt is out of the question?” he asked, trying to catch his breath.
“Should have included that in our deal, Dameron,” Hux replied, clucking his tongue on his way back to his seat on the couch. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like the information I requested. Sit.”
Poe hesitated briefly before realizing he’d rather not screw up the opportunity he’d found himself with; he’d have a much easier time formulating an escape while not chained to a wall. Begrudgingly, he limped over to the couch across from Hux, plopping his body down onto the leather with very little grace.
Hux leaned back in comfort, a sight different from the half-naked pilot huddled in on himself across from him.
“Now, tell me your relationship with Lord Ren. Spare no details.”
Poe took a deep breath and tried to maneuver into a position that didn’t make his unhealed wounds ache. Finding no such position, he settled for wrapping a hand over his sore ribs as he allowed himself to slouch against the cushions. The couch had never looked comfortable from his position against the wall, but in that moment, it felt like a bed of clouds.
“What do you want from him? You could just ask him to suck your dick if you’re so in love with him. He might do it.”
“Watch yourself, Dameron,” Hux snarled. “Tell me your relationship with Lord Ren.”
“We were friends, me and Ben. Back when he, you know, was ‘Ben’. Our moms were close so we ended up spending a lot of time together.”
Hux leaned forward with interest, resting his elbows on his knees as he locked eyes with this prisoner. “And? When did you become lovers?”
“What?! Lovers?” Poe asked, hissing as he accidentally jostled himself into a painful spot. “We weren’t ever ‘lovers’, where did you hear that?”
“I have watched your interrogation tape dozens of times, pilot. He treats you differently. There’s a familiarity and intimacy that I’ve never seen demonstrated with other prisoners.”
“Well, yeah, obviously. We were friends. I’ve known him since I was 2 years old.”
Hux leaned back, face scrunched in disbelief. “No, it’s more than that. You’re telling me that you never had feelings for each other?”
Poe shook his head. “No, I’ve never had feelings for Ben. We never shared feelings for each other.”
“Ahhh, so that’s it!” the General said, beaming. “You were never an item but it doesn’t mean he wasn’t in love with you.”
“You’re insane, do you know that?”
Hux continued, ignoring him. “But if he’s so in love with you, why hasn’t he come to bargain for your life? I offered you up for a very reasonable price. What is it about you that he is so drawn to?”
The pilot laughed again, instantly regretting the pain that shot through his chest. “Man, I don’t know. You underestimate how stubborn Ben can be. I’d only assume he’s even more stubborn now. Either that, or maybe you’re so repulsive that even I’m not worth it to him.”
“Such a nasty tongue of yours. I’m surprised you’ve kept it this long.” Hux leaned back and locked his hands together in front of him, gesturing with his eyes to something behind the pilot.
Poe never saw the needle that entered the soft space between his shoulder blades, but he could feel the familiar debilitating serum coursing down his spine. He whirled around in a panic, slapping the syringe away from the service droid before losing all control in his arms and legs. Poe fell to the ground, struggling on numbing limbs to crawl towards the door.
Poe could feel the thick serum climbing up his throat as he tried to speak before it overtook him. “Y-y-you s-said we h-had a d-d-deal…”
“And you put your trust in the man who paid half a million credits to have you dragged here to be tortured. Not very wise, pilot,” Hux gloated, helping Poe to the floor with a boot on his back. “You lot are so gullible, but I do appreciate the insight around our dear Lord Ren. You’ve been moderately helpful but I’m afraid there will be no break for you today. You’re due with a very eager General in a few hours and we need to get you ready.”
Hux lifted his foot off of Poe’s back, gesturing to the service droid to haul Poe against the wall while they awaited the Stormtroopers to gather him up.
As his eyes rolled back in his head he heard a knock at the door, catching a glimpse of a large black form in the doorway before he passed out completely.
Re: FILL: Torn [5/?]
…Where he’d been for the past hour, twirling the knife in his hands and staring off into the distance at nothing.
It unsettled Poe, to say the least.
He didn’t necessarily want the torture, obviously, but it was something real and routine and expected he could hold on to. It was the uncertainty that scared him more than anything.
So, he held himself still and tried to make himself small without rattling his chains too much. Maybe if the General spent enough time lost in thought he’d be called away before he could hurt Poe that day.
Poe couldn’t help flinching when Hux shifted in his seat, turning to look at him with fresh anger in his eyes.
“I feel,,” Hux seethed, his teeth catching on his bottom lip as he chewed through each word, “like your acquisition was made under false pretenses, pilot.”
There was no need for Poe to respond; his small expression of confusion was obvious.
Hux continued. “You see, when I created the bounty for you, I was under the impression that you had value. Specifically, to a certain member of First Order leadership. Well, it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen any hint of interest from this member of First Order leadership. This makes me very, very cross, pilot. I don’t like people wasting my time or my credits. It appears you’ve wasted both.”
Against his better judgment, Poe couldn’t help but cough out a laugh and with it, the first words he’d spoken days. “Hey buddy, I never asked for this. You came after me. And I have no idea what you’re kriffing talking about.” He was proud of himself for not sounding as broken as he truly was.
Hux narrowed his gaze at him and held the blade still in his lap.
“Ben Solo. Tell me about your relationship with him.”
If he hadn’t been chained tightly, that name could’ve toppled Poe over. He hadn’t heard it in years, and for good reason. Poe held silent as he inched back against the wall.
“So there was something between you two, wasn’t there. I see.” Hux’s expression remained guarded and neutral, though from across the room Poe could still tell Hux’s knuckles were turning white as they gripped the knife handle.
Swallowing hard, he dared to speak again. “Get fucked.”
In a flurry Hux was on his feet and standing too close to Poe, his chest nearly bumping against his prisoner’s. Poe couldn’t see the blade but he felt it grazing up and down the length of his forearm.
“You know I could just make you tell me,” Hux growled. Poe could feel the knife pressing harder against his skin, nearly breaking it.
Poe laughed in his face again, regardless of the consequences. “And when has that ever worked? With all due respect, General, you’re a sadist but you’re a shit interrogator. The only time the First Order has ever gotten anything from me was when your cheap, Jedi drop-out pulled it straight out of my brain. Looks like you two aren’t on the best of terms, so I’m not exactly worried.” He could see the line he’d crossed miles behind him, and he steeled himself for the blow he knew was coming.
Instead, Hux pulled away, setting his blade on his desk and turning back to address the pilot. His smile was gone, but so was his anger.
“Let’s make a deal, then. You have information I want,” he explained, crossing his arms in front of him. “What are your terms?”
Poe scoffed. “Let me go.”
“No chance, but I respect you starting high. I don’t blame you for that. I can give you an hour alone, and I’ll go easier when I return.”
“You want to know something deeply personal and you’re offering an hour break in return? I say again: get fucked.”
The General chuckled at the pilot, stepping closer and placing a hand on the wall near the side of Poe’s head. “A day of rest. And longer in the bacta tank after our next session.”
“How about no more ‘sessions’, ever.”
“No.”
“A week free, then.”
“No.”
“Five days.”
“Three.”
“Four days.”
“Three.”
Poe sighed. “Three days of rest, better bacta, and the chance to move around on my own, today. I can’t even remember the last time I was able to –“
“You’ve been here with me for 39 days, pilot,” Hux volunteered, a smile pulling at the edges of his lips. “It appears we have our terms. Do you accept?”
Hux waited for Poe to nod in approval before calling a familiar service droid to have Poe released from his chains. The pilot nearly fell under his own weight as he was let go, steadying himself against the wall as he struggled to gather his bearings. He glanced down at his forearm and was genuinely surprised to see the blade hadn’t left any real damage.
“I suppose a shirt is out of the question?” he asked, trying to catch his breath.
“Should have included that in our deal, Dameron,” Hux replied, clucking his tongue on his way back to his seat on the couch. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like the information I requested. Sit.”
Poe hesitated briefly before realizing he’d rather not screw up the opportunity he’d found himself with; he’d have a much easier time formulating an escape while not chained to a wall. Begrudgingly, he limped over to the couch across from Hux, plopping his body down onto the leather with very little grace.
Hux leaned back in comfort, a sight different from the half-naked pilot huddled in on himself across from him.
“Now, tell me your relationship with Lord Ren. Spare no details.”
Poe took a deep breath and tried to maneuver into a position that didn’t make his unhealed wounds ache. Finding no such position, he settled for wrapping a hand over his sore ribs as he allowed himself to slouch against the cushions. The couch had never looked comfortable from his position against the wall, but in that moment, it felt like a bed of clouds.
“What do you want from him? You could just ask him to suck your dick if you’re so in love with him. He might do it.”
“Watch yourself, Dameron,” Hux snarled. “Tell me your relationship with Lord Ren.”
“We were friends, me and Ben. Back when he, you know, was ‘Ben’. Our moms were close so we ended up spending a lot of time together.”
Hux leaned forward with interest, resting his elbows on his knees as he locked eyes with this prisoner. “And? When did you become lovers?”
“What?! Lovers?” Poe asked, hissing as he accidentally jostled himself into a painful spot. “We weren’t ever ‘lovers’, where did you hear that?”
“I have watched your interrogation tape dozens of times, pilot. He treats you differently. There’s a familiarity and intimacy that I’ve never seen demonstrated with other prisoners.”
“Well, yeah, obviously. We were friends. I’ve known him since I was 2 years old.”
Hux leaned back, face scrunched in disbelief. “No, it’s more than that. You’re telling me that you never had feelings for each other?”
Poe shook his head. “No, I’ve never had feelings for Ben. We never shared feelings for each other.”
“Ahhh, so that’s it!” the General said, beaming. “You were never an item but it doesn’t mean he wasn’t in love with you.”
“You’re insane, do you know that?”
Hux continued, ignoring him. “But if he’s so in love with you, why hasn’t he come to bargain for your life? I offered you up for a very reasonable price. What is it about you that he is so drawn to?”
The pilot laughed again, instantly regretting the pain that shot through his chest. “Man, I don’t know. You underestimate how stubborn Ben can be. I’d only assume he’s even more stubborn now. Either that, or maybe you’re so repulsive that even I’m not worth it to him.”
“Such a nasty tongue of yours. I’m surprised you’ve kept it this long.” Hux leaned back and locked his hands together in front of him, gesturing with his eyes to something behind the pilot.
Poe never saw the needle that entered the soft space between his shoulder blades, but he could feel the familiar debilitating serum coursing down his spine. He whirled around in a panic, slapping the syringe away from the service droid before losing all control in his arms and legs. Poe fell to the ground, struggling on numbing limbs to crawl towards the door.
Poe could feel the thick serum climbing up his throat as he tried to speak before it overtook him. “Y-y-you s-said we h-had a d-d-deal…”
“And you put your trust in the man who paid half a million credits to have you dragged here to be tortured. Not very wise, pilot,” Hux gloated, helping Poe to the floor with a boot on his back. “You lot are so gullible, but I do appreciate the insight around our dear Lord Ren. You’ve been moderately helpful but I’m afraid there will be no break for you today. You’re due with a very eager General in a few hours and we need to get you ready.”
Hux lifted his foot off of Poe’s back, gesturing to the service droid to haul Poe against the wall while they awaited the Stormtroopers to gather him up.
As his eyes rolled back in his head he heard a knock at the door, catching a glimpse of a large black form in the doorway before he passed out completely.