Bonfire

thecopperriver:

Second prompt fill for @huxloween

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A few weeks after their first introduction, it seems his fellow hater of pumpkin spice has become a regular at Kylo’s location.  Hux (he swears he only asked his name so he could write it on the cup) must be new to the area.  At least that’s what Kylo tells himself so he doesn’t start entertaining delusions that the attraction is mutual.  It’s only after plenty of goading by his coworker Finn that he gathers the courage to ask Hux out.

He’s still not sure why Hux agreed.  Kylo wasn’t exactly smooth, stumbling over his words when he says “so – uhh – would you – I like you?  We both hate pumpkin spice so…  Would – sorry – is this weird?  I – uhh – date? With me?”

The only problem now is that he was so convinced that Hux would say no, he has no idea what to do for their date.  And it’s Friday already, they’re supposed to meet after Kylo’s shift the next day.  It’s Finn’s foster sister, Rey, who saves him.

Kylo is used to listening to Rey chattering away with half an ear while he attends to customers.  She’s warmed up to him considerably since they first met two years before.  That’s why she immediately has his attention when he hears his name.

“Did you hear about the bonfire Phasma’s hosting tomorrow night, Finn?  Costumes and everything, she’s convinced me to go as her lady, she’s going to be a knight.”  Rey flushes prettily when talking about her new girlfriend.  “Hey, Kylo, you should come too!  Finn told me about the guy you asked out, bring him too.”

Since she realized that Kylo’s brooding demeanor is cover for the fact that he’s awkwardly shy, Rey has gone out of her way to include him in things.  He doesn’t know why she keeps trying.  He almost always refuses.

This time though, Kylo lights up at the suggestion.  “Rey!”

“Yes?”  She almost looks afraid, unused to his enthusiasm.

“You’ve saved me!  Thank you so much!”  

Finn sighs as Kylo bounds to the back room.  Kylo overhears, “thanks, Rey.  Now he’s going to spend the rest of his shift texting with Hux.”

Well, maybe not all of it.

Hey Pumpkin Spice, how’re you doing today?  I know where we’re going for our date tomorrow, but you’ll need a costume.

Kylo waits anxiously, shifting his weight from foot to foot as he repeatedly checks for a response.  Hux usually gets back to him fairly quickly, but what if he’s decided he doesn’t want to talk to Kylo anymore?  Or he’s found someone better?  He jumps violently when the phone in his hand vibrates with an incoming text.

First, never call me that again.  Today has gone well enough, I suppose.  All the upgrades to my latest project have been approved, now only implementing them remains.

A costume?  I suppose I can pull something together.  What is it for?

Kylo smiles down at his phone.  Hux’s texts are always so precise.  He’s had to change his own texts, because Hux just didn’t get text shorthand.

That’s a surprise.  You’ll just have to wait and find out tomorrow.  Pick you up at 7?

Fine.  My address is 1776 Sage Ln.

Though Kylo waits for more, that seems to be it.  And he isn’t going to push Hux, not when this thing is still so new.  For the rest of his shift, Finn repeatedly has to smack him to draw his attention back from staring off into space, wondering what Hux’s costume will be.

It’s only as he’s gathering up his things to leave that it occurs to him that he needs a costume too.  Oops.