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Finn shakes his head again, but this time at least he's smiling. "Okay, okay. As long as you admit you helped." If that's the way Poe wants to think, well, he can't help being flattered. General Organa might tell a different story. She won't. Finn is in for a surprise.
Done with the soup, he takes a few crackers to munch on. His hunger isn't exactly satisfied but he can feel the exhaustion creeping up again despite it. "Poe? Uh." He swallows, as much to buy time as anything. "Thanks. For being here when I woke up."
Done with the soup, he takes a few crackers to munch on. His hunger isn't exactly satisfied but he can feel the exhaustion creeping up again despite it. "Poe? Uh." He swallows, as much to buy time as anything. "Thanks. For being here when I woke up."
"Yeah, I helped. A little." He turns enough toward Finn to wink at him.
"Wouldn't be anywhere else in the galaxy, buddy. I needed to know you were okay."
"Wouldn't be anywhere else in the galaxy, buddy. I needed to know you were okay."
Of all things, those words bring back to him Rey's expression when she saw them at Starkiller Base. We came back for you, Finn had said, and he knew--knew--that it was exactly the right thing to say to her. Nobody had come back for her before, ever.
Nobody'd ever cared if he was okay before. And with just as much surety, he suddenly knew Rey had been by his bed with the same thought. That she wasn't here now could only be because she had something she couldn't put off any longer.
Poe's here, though. And it feels great to know that.
Finn lets himself sink into the pillows and breathes out. He'd like to say he's okay, but if just eating some soup and crackers makes him this tired it wouldn't exactly be the whole truth. "I'll be all right," he says instead, which is much more accurate. "Cause I've got my friends waiting for me."
Nobody'd ever cared if he was okay before. And with just as much surety, he suddenly knew Rey had been by his bed with the same thought. That she wasn't here now could only be because she had something she couldn't put off any longer.
Poe's here, though. And it feels great to know that.
Finn lets himself sink into the pillows and breathes out. He'd like to say he's okay, but if just eating some soup and crackers makes him this tired it wouldn't exactly be the whole truth. "I'll be all right," he says instead, which is much more accurate. "Cause I've got my friends waiting for me."
"I know you will be," Poe says. He's not sure at all, he's terrified about it, actually. But he puts all the conviction he's got into those words, because he needs it to be true. He's gotten through a lot of situations with sheer grit and determination; it's the only universal answer he's got.
He takes Finn's hand for a moment, just clasping it between his own because that feels like the right thing to do. "That's what friends do."
He takes Finn's hand for a moment, just clasping it between his own because that feels like the right thing to do. "That's what friends do."
Finn squeezes back with what little strength he has, noting that he's really going to need some conditioning once he's allowed out of bed. "I've never had friends before," he admits quietly, even though Poe probably already knows that. "But I think I picked some good ones."
Fell into them, deliberately picked them, same difference. Right?
Fell into them, deliberately picked them, same difference. Right?
Edited (Punctuation) 2016-01-09 05:28 (UTC)
Just that admission breaks his heart. He never really knew how Stormtroopers lived, but it makes sense, he supposes. Horrible, incredibly messed up sense. It hurts, and it makes him angry that Finn's been forced to live like that. The First Order just never stops hurting people.
Being angry right now isn't going to help Finn. Poe just digs it down deep, like he did when he discovered the traitor in the senate. More fuel for the fire. And for now, he can focus on Finn, and the fact that he is going to be okay, and he smiles. "You've got great taste," he says, grinning. "Though you better watch out about pilots. We've got a bad reputation."
Being angry right now isn't going to help Finn. Poe just digs it down deep, like he did when he discovered the traitor in the senate. More fuel for the fire. And for now, he can focus on Finn, and the fact that he is going to be okay, and he smiles. "You've got great taste," he says, grinning. "Though you better watch out about pilots. We've got a bad reputation."
Friends are a luxury a Stormtrooper can't afford. If it's a choice between completing an objective and leaving a squadmate behind, the Stormtroopers are conditioned to leave their own to die.
It was why it was so important to Finn not to let that happen to Rey. They could indoctrinate him all they wanted, but he still knew the difference between what was the right thing to do and what was the easy thing to do.
He barely catches Poe's flash of...something. Maybe surprise? It's still hard for him to read expressions, between all the helmets and the persistently linefaced expressions of most officers. Probably surprise.
"Oh yeah? Bunch of thrillseekers always trying to one-up each other, huh?" Or some other kind of bad reputation?
It was why it was so important to Finn not to let that happen to Rey. They could indoctrinate him all they wanted, but he still knew the difference between what was the right thing to do and what was the easy thing to do.
He barely catches Poe's flash of...something. Maybe surprise? It's still hard for him to read expressions, between all the helmets and the persistently linefaced expressions of most officers. Probably surprise.
"Oh yeah? Bunch of thrillseekers always trying to one-up each other, huh?" Or some other kind of bad reputation?
There are all kinds of other reputations pilots have, and Poe hasn't actually earned most of them even if he gets tarred with that brush. So he's not going to get into that, no. But that first one? Yeah, he's earned that. "Yeah, troublemakers all the way, you better watch out. And we drag people into trouble with us which is worse."
He bumps Finn's shoulder lightly. "But hey, guess I got a friend to fish me out of all that trouble."
He bumps Finn's shoulder lightly. "But hey, guess I got a friend to fish me out of all that trouble."
Luckily for Poe, Finn has yet to hear most of those rumors. As for dragging others in with them, that's easy enough to believe. He grins again, though his face is beginning to show signs of strain as he struggles not to succumb to sleep.
"Yeah. I got your back, Poe." Or he would, if he could get up without hurting himself worse. "Once they give me the all-clear, anyway. Try not to get in too deep until then, okay?" Try being the key word there.
"Yeah. I got your back, Poe." Or he would, if he could get up without hurting himself worse. "Once they give me the all-clear, anyway. Try not to get in too deep until then, okay?" Try being the key word there.
"Don't worry, I always come back," Poe says.
(He always says that.) BB-8 opines.
Poe grins. "And I haven't been wrong yet."
But he notes how tired Finn is looking. The man's still got a lot of healing left to do, and keeping him awake probably isn't going to help. "Let's get you laid back down since you're done with your soup. You need to just focus on getting better for now, okay?"
(He always says that.) BB-8 opines.
Poe grins. "And I haven't been wrong yet."
But he notes how tired Finn is looking. The man's still got a lot of healing left to do, and keeping him awake probably isn't going to help. "Let's get you laid back down since you're done with your soup. You need to just focus on getting better for now, okay?"
Edited 2016-01-09 22:55 (UTC)
"I might hold you to that." It sounds like a good trait for a friend to have, doesn't it? Always coming back?
Lying back down sounds appealing, though. Finn nods. "I'll get better, and then maybe you can show me around a little? When you're off duty." He'd assessed the base itself the first time he'd been here: it had a different layout than a First Order base but was in many other ways the same. No, what Poe could give him was an introduction to the people of the Resistance. The idea of introducing himself as the First Order traitor--no. But as Poe's friend? Yeah. He'd like that.
With Poe's help he manages to get back down without anything dire happening, though he begins to feel a few twinges in his back. Even that had been an exertion, apparently. "Poe? I'll see you in the morning."
Lying back down sounds appealing, though. Finn nods. "I'll get better, and then maybe you can show me around a little? When you're off duty." He'd assessed the base itself the first time he'd been here: it had a different layout than a First Order base but was in many other ways the same. No, what Poe could give him was an introduction to the people of the Resistance. The idea of introducing himself as the First Order traitor--no. But as Poe's friend? Yeah. He'd like that.
With Poe's help he manages to get back down without anything dire happening, though he begins to feel a few twinges in his back. Even that had been an exertion, apparently. "Poe? I'll see you in the morning."
"You can count on it." On either of those things. Both of them.
Poe slides off the bed and helps Finn get himself situated. That done, he settles back into the chair he'd been in before Finn woke up. "And count on that, too. Get some rest, buddy."
Poe slides off the bed and helps Finn get himself situated. That done, he settles back into the chair he'd been in before Finn woke up. "And count on that, too. Get some rest, buddy."
He's half asleep by the time he gets flat, so his answer is half a mumble. But at least he's smiling as he drifts back into unconsciousness.
Somewhat to his surprise, Finn had made a full recovery. After a few (terrifying) talks with General Organa, he found himself alternating his time between being a squad leader for ground forces and discussing everything he knew about the First Order with various high-ranking staff of the Resistance. The second part was almost as draining as the first, really, as he racked his brain and recalled more than he he ever would have thought.
On the other hand, unlike in his previous life, there's time off that doesn't come with either structured activity or a required dress code. When he gets to his first real day off, though, he looks and looks but all he can find is a problem. He can't fnid Poe's jacket.
So, clad in some loose workout clothes (he does, after all, have some running to do), he goes in search of his friend.
On the other hand, unlike in his previous life, there's time off that doesn't come with either structured activity or a required dress code. When he gets to his first real day off, though, he looks and looks but all he can find is a problem. He can't fnid Poe's jacket.
So, clad in some loose workout clothes (he does, after all, have some running to do), he goes in search of his friend.
No longer doing his daily (and nightly) vigil by Finn's bedside, Poe's let himself get sucked back into the more normal routines of being a pilot and the commander of Black Squadron. Finn's busy, now, and he doesn't want the guy feeling like he's hovering over him or anything, though he does miss seeing Finn quite so often. Then again, if that's the price of Finn being all better, he'll pay it gladly.
He's in the hangar, going over the daily maintenance check lists. They're still on constant ten minute scramble time, so at least all the waiting gets filled in with making sure that they are ready to go at a moment's notice. BB-8, as usual, is with him, burbling at the X-wing's computer and ironing out some kind of code hiccup that's much too complicated for Poe to understand. He trusts the droid to handle things.
He's in the hangar, going over the daily maintenance check lists. They're still on constant ten minute scramble time, so at least all the waiting gets filled in with making sure that they are ready to go at a moment's notice. BB-8, as usual, is with him, burbling at the X-wing's computer and ironing out some kind of code hiccup that's much too complicated for Poe to understand. He trusts the droid to handle things.
Of course that's where Poe is - he should have looked in the hargar first, instead of at mess, but he'd been hungry anyway so it had served two purposes. When he identifies BB-8 at a distance, he waves to get their attention.
"Hey BB-8! Poe, everything going all right?" It looks like nobody is worried, but what does he know about fighter maintenance?
"Hey BB-8! Poe, everything going all right?" It looks like nobody is worried, but what does he know about fighter maintenance?
"Hey, Finn!" Well, this is an unexpected pleasure, and Poe unabashedly grins. He knows FInn's been kept really busy lately, after all. "Yeah, everything's green here. You doing okay?"
"Yeah. It's pretty good here." In fact, the option to leave had been presented to him - transport to anywhere he wanted - but he had a suspicion General Organa had only offered it to him because she knew he'd refuse. Even so, it means something that he's here by choice, because it's what he wants to do.
His face falls as he recalls why he'd come here, though. "Except, I'm really sorry, Poe. I can't find your--my jacket anywhere." And given the state his back was in? He grimaces. "I think it got messed up when I was on Starkiller base. I'm sorry."
His face falls as he recalls why he'd come here, though. "Except, I'm really sorry, Poe. I can't find your--my jacket anywhere." And given the state his back was in? He grimaces. "I think it got messed up when I was on Starkiller base. I'm sorry."
Poe just kind of stares at him for a moment. "It got messed up because that crazed wannabe Sith Lord tried to kill you." How does that equal to an apology. "Anyway, I've got a surprise for you. Come on."
He straightens, scrubbing grease-stained hands on his already smudged jumpsuit out of habit. "Gotta go back to my room. That's where it is. The surprise, I mean."
He straightens, scrubbing grease-stained hands on his already smudged jumpsuit out of habit. "Gotta go back to my room. That's where it is. The surprise, I mean."
Well, yes, but it was still equipment assigned to him, and Phasma never took 'Kylo Ren did it' as an excuse. But before he can explain, Poe cuts him off and Finn nods.
"Sure, Poe. You coming too, BB-8?"
(Are you kidding? Your expression is going to be priceless!) the droid chirps, rolling out excitedly and confirming with a headbob to Poe.
Finn isn't sure where Poe's room is, so he's ready to follow.
"Sure, Poe. You coming too, BB-8?"
(Are you kidding? Your expression is going to be priceless!) the droid chirps, rolling out excitedly and confirming with a headbob to Poe.
Finn isn't sure where Poe's room is, so he's ready to follow.
Poe laughs and shakes a finger a BB-8. His droid has such an excellent sense of humor. They're pretty well-matched when it comes to that.
He leads Finn through the maze of corridors that comprise the base, into the more protected areas where the living quarters are, dug down into the ground. One nice thing about being a commander is that he's got a room to himself, while most of the pilots have been having to go with bunks. He feels a little guilty about it sometimes, but then Jess or Kare give him one of those looks and he shuts up before he says something really stupid.
"Okay, here we go..." The room's little better than a closet anyway, just big enough for a bed and a standing crate that doubles as a wardrobe. He opens that and digs the surprise out of the back, turning with a flourish to offer to to Finn: "Tah dah!"
It's the coat. Well. Most of it. The back had to be completely replaced. But it seemed important to keep as much of the old coat as he could.
He leads Finn through the maze of corridors that comprise the base, into the more protected areas where the living quarters are, dug down into the ground. One nice thing about being a commander is that he's got a room to himself, while most of the pilots have been having to go with bunks. He feels a little guilty about it sometimes, but then Jess or Kare give him one of those looks and he shuts up before he says something really stupid.
"Okay, here we go..." The room's little better than a closet anyway, just big enough for a bed and a standing crate that doubles as a wardrobe. He opens that and digs the surprise out of the back, turning with a flourish to offer to to Finn: "Tah dah!"
It's the coat. Well. Most of it. The back had to be completely replaced. But it seemed important to keep as much of the old coat as he could.
He's impressed enough with the room as it is - even a tiny closet is more privacy than Finn's used to. He doesn't doubt Poe's earned it, having seen him in action; it's one thing to call yourself a great pilot but something entirely different to be given the title by a war hero like General Organa.
Finn gasps when he sees the jacket, though, taken by complete surprise. BB-8 bubbles with laughter. "How did you--Poe!" He grabs the jacket so he can look it over, grinning happily and running his hands over the new padding on the back. "You fixed it."
Finn gasps when he sees the jacket, though, taken by complete surprise. BB-8 bubbles with laughter. "How did you--Poe!" He grabs the jacket so he can look it over, grinning happily and running his hands over the new padding on the back. "You fixed it."
So much happiness just makes Poe grin all the harder. "Well, it was still on you when you came in." When what was left of Finn came in. Well, Finn was all in one piece now and just fine, so he could stop thinking about that, thanks. "Kare does leatherworking as a hobby, so we're both lucky. She fixed is up. So. Uh. I owe her a lot of drinks. And so do you."
There's nothing but to try it on, and wouldn't you know it fits just fine. Finn just beams and spontaneously grasps Poe in a quck hug. "You got it. All the drinks I can get my hands on. Do we have to smuggle them in?" He should probably let go, so he does, but his grin doesn't die down.
"This is great, Poe. The best. Thanks a lot."
"This is great, Poe. The best. Thanks a lot."
Okay, the grin was enough of a reward, but the hug's a nice bonus, however quick. "What? No. Just can't drink on duty. But next time we hit the cantina, you get to buy. And then I get to buy. And then you get to buy some more."
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