driftfleet | (no subject)

[He hadn't, but their first conversation had been vague enough that Erik hadn't caught on. Leveling an entire planet did not seem possible, not for some insignificant military man.]

Oh, I don't think I need to know more. You destroyed an entire planet and everyone on it. That is the sum of it, unless you plan to deny that.

If you're going to be outraged and try to carry out justice in the name of former residents of the Hosnian System you should know that there were actually four other planets and moons destroyed aside from Hosnian Prime. Oh and the bulk of the Republican fleet.

[He wasn't ashamed but rather proud of his accomplishment. That day he had overcome everything in his life and achieved more than even the Emperor himself could have ever imagined.]

Justice? No. I'm not from your world. Retribution can't come from me. [Erik stops in his circuit, behind Hux, and extends one hand to the side with his palm down. The humourless smile is more heard in his voice than seen.] And you've gotten entirely the wrong measure of what kind of man I am.

[He flicks his wrist up, and the floor under Hux responds, heaving sharply upwards.]

Then why- [He was interrupted by the floor suddenly lurching up from under him, sending him falling back. He barely avoided hitting the floor but he did hit the crate behind him hard, grabbing onto the edge to keep from falling over.

He had never seen Kylo Ren to do anything like this and it occurred to him that Erik didn't have the same leash holding him back that Ren did.]

What kind of man are you then? [He should be scared, he knew that, but he was determined. He narrowed his eyes, slowly straightening.]

[Erik watches Hux stumble backwards, clinical and cool. The dawning of understanding in these men was always the most satisfactory part, before their lives ended. He had witnessed it many times. As Hux straightens, Erik starts rolling up his sleeves.]

The kind who's been under the thumb of men like you. I know your kind all too well.

So you're going to take out your issues on me then? [Funny, he had always thought it would be either Kylo Ren or Leia Organa who would be the ones who brought an end to his life, in some way.

He had never imagined it would come to this. Fear made his heart beat faster but he forced himself to keep his voice as even as possible. He made himself keep his eyes on Erik as he pushed away from the crate once he was on his feet again.]

That's rather cliche.

Spare me the bravado.

[Goading a weapon is never a good move. He extends his hand again, the black numbers written on his forearm bare in the light. All the metal screws he keeps in his pockets come spilling out to spiral around his fingers.

He advances.]

I'm going to make this very clear for you.

[He backed against the crate before he could stop himself, eyes wide. He glanced at the numbers on Erik's arm though they weren't familiar to him.

He knew all too well that there was nothing he could do to stop Erik but he wasn't going to convince him to stop or beg for his life now. He said nothing though, not entirely trusting his voice to remain calm.]

[Erik stops within a foot of Hux - but the screws don't. He waves his hand and they float up to spiral around Hux's face, rather too close for comfort. Erik lets them hang for a moment, before he speaks with ice in his voice.]

I've spent half of my life hunting down and killing people like you. You don't want to share a ship with me. [More to the point, Erik doesn't want to either.] So, leave.

[Hux watched the screws carefully. He thought his heart would beat out of his chest but he tried to remember to breathe. Ren had cornered him like this the first time he had come to Finalizer and he had hated himself for being afraid and useless then.

And he hated feeling afraid now. He hadn't let Ren win and get the best of him then so he refused to live in fear now despite the fact he knew Erik could kill him easily.]

No, I'm not going anywhere. You'll have to kill me or accept that.

[It's an answer that sparks immediate anger in Erik. The man was shirking an opportunity to escape, one Erik rarely gives. His expression twists darkly and his fist clenches. The screws hovering around Hux snap to the left and condense into a solid clump. Erik jerks his fist and the ball of screws cracks into Hux's temple.]

[All he sat from the corner of his eyes was the glint of the metal screws but he turned to see it too late. He didn't possess quick reflexes which would allow him to dodge a blow like that.

It hit him hard and that was all he remembered before the world went black and he crumpled to the floor, unconscious.]

[Hux collapses in front of him, and Erik's still angry. He snatches the ball of screws back out of the air and stands over the man's prone form. His other hand moves to slide the hunting knife out of his belt. His breathing still comes short and fast, and he knows it would be easy, in this moment, to take him out. Hux had practically given him permission, not that it was required. Not for something like this.

He stands that way for a long moment, eyes on Hux and knife at the ready. The rage continues to simmer in him, but rage he can deal with. He's had long practice at it by now. Instead, he thinks it through objectively. It wouldn't be ideal to kill someone in the ship he's living in, not when he's uncertain of how permanent it is. Hux, though he's displayed no self preservation so far, would have to see sense after this and leave. If Erik can get out of this without further incident, it benefits everyone. And he has an appointment to keep this morning.

Erik shoves the knife back into its sheath, and the screws back into his jacket, all but one. The one remaining screw he casts over Hux's crumpled body, and it slides itself into the man's pocket. It would serve as a reminder, when he finds it. With one last disgusted look, Erik steps over Hux and into one of the shuttles.]