albinomilksnake | STAR WARS: possible spoiler warning

No. [He'd be lying if he said it wasn't a let down, not getting to know, not having the same footing to stand on in return, but that's...stupid. Childish. The world's bigger than just the two of them and what matters in this moment is that they're both alive and okay and right there next to each other again. So Finn drops his eyeline, shifting to lean back and fold the list of supplied foods in front of him, resealing every crease with a deft precision; he wasn't a good shot for nothing.]

No, it was just basic strike work against confirmed targets. Cleared up some old stomping grounds, got back some supplies for local villages that were about to lose their land and everything in it.

[Their lives, their kids, possibly, if the stormtrooper program was still running strong after his defection. A lot of the legion was lost after Starkiller Base; they'd have to make up for it somehow, he figures.] Brute force kind of work, and not all that glamorous, but I'm glad it got done.

[Poe hadn't had time to think much about what kind of a soldier Finn had to be to want to escape the First Order when it had happened. He knew he didn't want to be there, and at the time it was more than enough. If he'd had time to imagine such a scenario before then maybe he would have pictured a coward, or a soul to gentle for war, or something else entirely.

But Finn was a good soldier. A good man, and he'd done a lot for the cause since he'd been here. All he'd needed was something better to fight for. Poe understood that.

Listening to him talk about what he's been up to makes it more clear then ever.]

Yeah, I'm sure they're glad, too.

[There's not a second of hesitation as Poe brings his hand up to curl around the back of Finn's neck, Palm steady, fingers soft. He knows he's smilling, but what's unusual about that?]

I'm glad someone's out there protecting people.

[Poe's work did, in the long run, but he knew plenty of people couldn't wait for the long run. Not without losing hope. And you needed hope to survive.]

Oh come on. [He likes it, the warmth of Poe's hand across his neck. Broad and rough and familiar enough to be a comfort, but the rest of it— sometimes he thinks Poe's lived too long around people that need him to constantly be on the ball. Play the hero, pitch the lines, look the part. And Finn gets it: morale is everything when it comes down to the wire with lives on the line and futures in limbo. Not a day goes by that freedom— putting war and blood behind him and knowing a shot's not going to come for his neck— isn't more appealing than the thought of suiting up with a blaster at his side.

But Finn's here for his friends; he doesn't need speeches or bravado, he just needs Poe.] You say that like you're not.

I know you better than that.

Edited 2016-04-21 12:52 (UTC)

[And just like that, they're over D'Qar. The reversion to real space, the hum of lightspeed against the hull dying away, is what wakes her up. Rey spends a long time blinking at the viewscreen, bewildered and heavy with unshaken sleep; it isn't until Luke sends out a flippant call to the base's sensor station that she actually sits up, shakes herself, and lets the wild bolt of excitement find her.]

Really? We're really going back?

[Luke Skywalker shrugs at the controls of the Millenium Falcon. Sure, why not. The fuel here's free, isn't it?

[She doesn't laugh, but she does lean forward across the co-pilots controls and watches with mute delight as the green and blue marble of a planet grows to fill the viewscreen. They break through the upper atmosphere, coast through the cloud coverage, and pass over the deep dark expanse of water approaching the open air hangar of the base. She's up and out of her chair before the repulsorlifts have even fired, keeping a steadying hand on the interior wall off the Falcon as she makes her way from the cockpit toward the cargo ramp.

The ship touches down with a clatter. It usually does. She stands for a long moment waiting for the ramp to drop. Two seconds. She fidgets. Five more second and she shouts toward the cockpit:] Would you stop!

[There's an answering peal of laughter, then the hydraulics hiss and the ramp drops. She's hopping off it before it even fully touches down on the ferrocrete, stride lengthening until she's all but running for the base entrance.

It takes her almost fifteen minutes of stalking he corridors before she successfully corners a technician who actually knows the answer to her question - another five to work her way down to the mess hall, and less than five seconds to spot Finn and Poe across the length of the room from the moment she reaches the doorway.]

You!

[The shout is enough that it actually gets a few people to look up from their breakfast - or lunch - or whatever meal it is given their shift rotation. Rey charges through the tables, closing the distance between them at a clip.]

[If you didn't want rousing speeches you shouldn't date the galaxies hugest nerd Finn.]

Yeah, it's just-

[And he's about to explain- that he knew what he was doing was going to make things better. That he knew it would help them, the resistance, the Republic, the Galaxy, but that sometimes, when you were elbow deep in the mud and the only thanks you were getting was for not stepping on someone's brain-tails it was hard to remember that. He certainly wasn't getting to liberate grateful villagers. It wasn't always as glamorous as he'd imagined as a kid.

He doesn't get the chance, though. Not before he hears her- a call bold and loud and determined enough to sound like a challenge. He blinks, eyes wide and mouth gaping foolishly as he registers slowly something he wouldn't have imagined. When was the last time they were all in the same place? What were the chances? He's left with his hand hovering just beside Finn's face and a smile only barely starting to fight past the surprise as she comes up on them like a storm.]

[He jumps when she bellows, storming across the distance towards them. In that split-second without thinking he nearly rises to attention out of habit, already throwing off Poe's glancing contact, half-risen on his heels-- and then up. This time because he wants to be, rushing forward as if gravity itself is shifting him, outstretched fingers leading the charge.

Catching her with the most senseless, stupid brand of grin imaginable, chin tucked to her shoulder.

He and Poe have been separated for too long, he'll stand by that assessment as often as missions tear them from one another's side, but Rey-- Rey's been gone for so much longer.]

[She crosses the hall in ten bounding strides, hands empty like she was prepared for this instead of just forgetting to bring her things - her bag, her staff, anything - along with her. When he meets her she's ready for the hug: crashes into it like she means to tackle him, arms folding around his neck and shoulder and gripping so hard she feels like she could lift him from the ground of she wanted to.

She doesn't say, I thought about you every day. She doesn't say, I missed you so much. She doesn't say, Leave the Resistance and just come with me. Instead she just cinches her grip tight and buries her face against Finn's neck and hugs the daylights out of him.]

Edited 2016-04-22 08:04 (UTC)

[And Poe watches.

He doesn't just watch, he watches while grinning like an absolute idiot, but he's not about to interrupt them. It's been too long. He's seen them both since the last time they saw each other, and they're still- they've got a lot of loss lined off behind them.

They were both doing good work. They were both doing the right thing. It would just be nice if their good works and right things all lined up a little neater.

More reason to fight harder, right?]

[Breathing takes thought, effort— more than he has to spare so for a drawn-out minute he doesn't. Leaves the heavy pressure of his palms there and the scuff of his thumb where it rubs across her back the way someone might scrub off dirt for how needy it is. In truth, he just needs the pressure. Needs to keep shifting the buried angle of his profile to feel how real she is, which looks, for the record, absolutely ridiculous to anyone stood there watching.

Poe saw her more often than he did. Bad luck, and it broke his heart to hear about it (he was happy for them— is happy they got to be near one another) but it's hard not to be marginally selfish when everything comes down to the occasional planetary alignment.

Finn took leave for a week after that. Buried himself in Poe's quarters just to remind himself of what he had, rather than what he didn't.

Now, at least for a little while, he won't have to miss either of them.]

I didn't know—

[He starts, not having any real control over the thought as it comes tumbling out of him. It doesn't even make sense without context, but then finishing it feels impossible. Doesn't even remember where he was going with it in the first place.]

[She feels the words across her shoulder as much as hears them. Honestly, it doesn't really matter that they're wildly put of context, that they don't form a full thought. She gets it.

It's effort to peel herself away, but eventually after a few more moments of the crushing hug Rey manages it: sets her hands on Finn's shoulders and twists back against his grip so she can get a good look at him. The too sharp, too focused look that had been trapped on her face during the charge across the mess hall has been replaced by a buoyant, shining grin. She's all teeth, her fingers practically vibrating where they've automatically found a grip on his jacket.]

I didn't know I'd be here or I'd have sent a message. Or that you'd be here. Or Poe. Or--

[She claps her hands to either side of his face and unceremoniously smashes her mouth to his. There. Much simpler.

(Barring, of course, the boots of appreciation from the miscellaneous techs, pilots and ground crew at the tables winging them.)]

[And Poe is sharp on the uptake there at least, craning his head around to look at the room behind him and shouting-]

Don't you moof-milkers have jobs to get back to?

[Which earns him a few good-natured jabs in return and half of someone's dinner roll smacking the shoulder of his previously clean shirt.]

Edited 2016-04-22 23:16 (UTC)

I—

[He doesn't know if Poe's talking to him or everyone else in the split-second where her hands are still clutched tight across his cheeks, hot enough from rising flush that it seems like he might somehow scorch her palms if she doesn't move. If he doesn't move her. If—

Finn stands blankly, swallows thickly. Inhales once and then lifts a hand to brush her cheek in a rush of instinct before he tilts his attention back over his shoulder in time to see Poe getting smacked full-on by someone else's dinner. And then he feels— well, he feels guilty, really. Sheepish in the way he flashes an apologetic smile, taking Rey's fingers in his own and drawing her over towards the space they'd all been sharing before she showed up.]

Good to know your team still loves you.

[She doesn't mind the eyes. The whole mess hall can look at her while she kisses him for all she cares. But if it bothers Finn, then fine - she'll make do with simply lacing her fingers in his and letting herself be drawn back toward Poe.

--Not that she minds that either, really. Once she's within range, she slings her free arm around Poe's shoulders and then cheerfully climbs onto the bench alongside him.]

You look much better than the last time I saw you. [No dark circles under his eyes, for one. For a brief second she finds her fingers in his hair at the nape of his neck - a gentle tug there - and then she slips her arm free of him in favor of picking over what must be Finn's plate.]

[He takes it all in stride, laughing lightly as he brushes crumbs off his shoulder with the backs of his fingers, looking up under his lashes as Finn untangles himself far enough to wrap his fingers around Rey's and lead her forward.]

I have been told I'm pretty lovable.

[It's a cocky kind of joke and it doesn't settle before Rey's dropping onto the bench beside him, arm around her neck and other hand still entwined with Finn's. He grins again, without an ounce of anything resembling sharpness, only wavering at the light pull of her fingers in his hair, enough to have his eyelids shuttering closed, a little shiver and the gentle reminder of the last time he saw her.

Not like he needed it.]

And you look just as beautiful.

[He doesn't pull her into a hug in turn- or tug her onto his lap, even if it sounded like a great idea. All he does is set his hand at her back- barely touching her, just the pads of his middle and ring finger at the dip in her spine, sliding lightly down before he pulls his hand away and refocuses with a blink. Looks at Finn over the span of her shoulder. Smiles patiently and waits.]

You do-- [Finn agrees, scooting closer by degrees with eagerness boiling in his blood. It's only then that he remembers he wasn't there the way they both were; that his contribution isn't necessarily valid or relevant. He purses his lips, untangles his fingers and drops his forearms to the table, stare flicking downwards and then back again.] I mean you-- you seem like it. You always do.

[#nailedit #perfectrecovery]

[It's a silly thing for someone to say - she knows that, but she also know Poe means it, so mostly it just adds to the bright feeling trapped in her chest.]

That's nice of you. Of both of you. [Rey takes a moment to pick through the contents of Finn's plate, then takes the liberty of eating a few things off it; if there's a hiccup in Finn's logic, she doesn't bother pointing it out. Instead she simply presses her leg flush against Finn's and settles - between them, the ghost of Poe's hand at her back and then gone again.]

I don't have any idea how long we're here for. [Rey, don't talk with food in your mouth.] But the Falcon needs refitting. That should take a day, at least. --Two, maybe.

[He leans over, props his elbow on the table and rests his chin against his knuckles, smile easing into something soft and indulgent as Finn stumbles thought, as Rey takes the compliment and his food with the frank practicality she did most things. Same way she announces her schedule- without bothering to dance around it. It's not the best news of all time, but it's not the worst, either. You always had to hope for longer stretches of time but he knew, a day or two and even if she could stay chances were he couldn't or Finn couldn't. Something would probably pop up. It usually did.

And yet-]

I wouldn't count on getting away that quick. The General's trying to put something together and I'm betting she'll want to talk to the Commander about it.

[An old title, but there was something about calling him 'Luke Skywalker' that seemed a little weird now that he was a flesh and blood person again instead of a ghost Poe was chasing. And he'd never be able to say 'Master' with a straight face.]

What-- seriously?

[And for that, he sits up straighter, edges closer - nearly blocking off Rey from the meal he's hardly had a chance to look at, let alone touch (and doesn't really care to anymore, adrenaline pumping out a steady rhythm in his chest). Every day it felt like he got a little closer to hearing more, knowing more-- and it's not as if the General didn't trust him, she did-- but he was nowhere near to being a fixture in the Resistance yet, even if his 'heroism' back on Starkiller was a solid start.

(It never felt like anything but trying to save a friend that needed him.)

But if Poe's right, maybe they can get a week together-- maybe more.]

[She straightens, attention snapping around in Poe's direction.]

What kind of something?

[Her hand blindly finds another scrap from Finn's plate, feeding it into her mouth without a moment's wavering of either her focus of her eye line. If this something was big enough, maybe they'd be sticking around for more than a day or two. A week, maybe. Weeks even. Maybe 'something' is significant enough that she won't have to leave again - that the next time she goes up in a ship, Finn will be her gunner and they'll be flying with Poe's squadron of X-wings.

(She doesn't think farther or bigger than that - that 'something' could be big enough that maybe it won't involve flying into something combat-shaped at all. She isn't stupid.)]

[They're too keen and too intent and he thinks he's got a pretty good handle on what's going to happen but he can't be sure and that's- it's enough to have him sit up a little straighter.]

I can't make any promises- [The words are easy but there's something in his voice. Pleading maybe, he can't imagine how he'll feel if he ends up being wrong-] I don't know exactly what Commander Skywalker has going on, but-

[It's not top secret, but it's not common knowledge either. Still, if anyone was trustworthy it was them, and there wasn't much danger in the outline. So he leans in slight, voice low and eyelids heavy.]

We're getting close to something. We think it's where they're manufacturering their small craft. Hitting them there will really out a dent in their attempts to get back up to full strength after Starkiller.

[It would be a dangerous, risky mission, of course. It always was. Might be easier with help, though, or at least advise. Advise might buy them an extra day. Better than nothing.]

It's all guesses though.

I'm ready. [Chomping at the bit, he looks more than it by this point, mouth twisted upwards into a grin like it's all he's ever wanted. Because if they rope Luke in-- if that's really what the General is aiming for-- she won't need him or Rey, she might not even need Poe if they're trying to be stealthy about it (which is all wishful thinking on his part, but a lot of missions get pulled without Poe on duty).] Tell the General I can offer up some insight on the process or--

[She's nodding along, the lines of her expression slowly flattening her smile as she listens to Poe - not that it really does much to cut the incandescent glow in her face, the all but literal low key vibration under her skin -, but there's at least an attempt to temper her expectations.

Kind of.

Finn speaks and her hand finds his shoulder without looking.]

Eat your breakfast, Finn. When are either of you on duty next?

[He raises his hand, palm out, gentle request for quiet cut neatly by Rey's demand.]

Belive me, if the General wants something she'll ask for it.

[And with that he uses his knuckles to push the tray a little closer to Finn- but not out from under Rey's clever hands entirely.]

I'm grounded for two days. And I'm not allowed to so much as touch a report, apparently.

[Which had seemed a little harder when he'd first got the order. Stupid, since he'd seen enough of the ground troops around to guess Finn was here.

And for all the words are said with an easy, casual way, by the end of them his smiles gone just crooked enough to be suggestive. He'd be happy for something as suggestive as just listening to them talk, or holding hands under the table or going for a walk around base, but, well. Didn't usually pan out that way.]

Edited 2016-04-25 14:21 (UTC)

[A subtlety Finn misses entirely, already picking at his meal with a stubborn determination: it's impossible to be hungry like this, but for as long as it lasts, he knows he has to keep up his strength. No lulls in regiment that might get someone else killed if he's off his game in a couple of days, no gaps in dietary nutrition that'll have him tired and sleeping too long should either Rey or Poe have to pick up and take off.

And for how bizarre food had been after a life lived entirely on nutrient blocks, he's managed to adjust surprisingly well: sure, his picks are on the bland side of things, but at least Finn handles toast and Hydarien pickle spread without a fuss.

Half a slice in, (mostly pinned against his cheek) and Finn stops chewing long enough to glance up.] We could always go swimming. Rylar said there's a lake not too far from here that a lot of the cadets-- uh, recruits, like to hit up on their down time.

[In truth, he's right. A half an hour of walking in the right direction would get them there without much in the way of attention or trouble-- but he's also right because most of the time crew have difficulty securing any privacy: the lake doesn't see laps half as much as it sees other physical activity.]

[She catches the crookedness of Poe's smile by merit of knowing better - by knowing exactly how certain free hours were spent in his company the last time he had them. Her eyes narrow on him by a fraction and the line of her mouth thins in consideration - the thought that she'd had running subconsciously in time with her mouth on Finn's, her fingers in Poe's hair, pressing herself unceremoniously between them on the bench, bubbles hot to the surface.

She finishes chewing what's in her mouth, still eyeing Poe with that drawn flat expression while her elbow sets flush against the line of Finn's arm.]

I don't know how to swim. [She says it matter of fact, without thinking of anything other problems with this plan - no consideration for the fact that she very well may have duties to attend to. Just because Luke let her run off the moment the Falcon touched down doesn't mean they aren't here for something. But if she's missing longer than anticipated-- ...well, whatever. She'll make it up somehow.] But a walk sounds nice.

STAR WARS: possible spoiler warning

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