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"You got it, Poe." Actually, he's not entirely sure what to do with his salary, since credits didn't come a Stormtrooper's way very often if at all. He's pretty sure blowing it all on the pilots isn't a valid long-term investment, but a week's wages are a small price to pay for the first present he's ever had.
"You just tell me when. I've got a couple days off every week."
"You just tell me when. I've got a couple days off every week."
"Well, drinking's got to wait until we're not on high alert. Sadly." Because they have to all be ready to go out at a moment's notice; no regular leave for now. "So you can just save it up for a real blow out good time. We'll hit Yavin or something and really show you a good time."
He nods, businesslike; makes sense to him. Finn knows now they lost enough pilots at Starkiller Base to make each of them indispensible until some more backups could come online - even if the ranks were swelling exponentially after the destruction of the Senate. There are a lot more ground troops, so he at least is on a mostly-regular schedule.
But if Poe gets called somewhere, Finn wants to follow as his backup if he can.
"I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I tagged along next time you got leave," he admits. "I don't have that many friends here yet." Poe does, of course. He's as popular as anyone would expect.
But if Poe gets called somewhere, Finn wants to follow as his backup if he can.
"I was hoping you wouldn't mind if I tagged along next time you got leave," he admits. "I don't have that many friends here yet." Poe does, of course. He's as popular as anyone would expect.
Poe has been planning to ask him, anyway; the thought of not hasn't even occurred to him. "What? Of course!" He claps Finn on the shoulder. "But that's not tagging along. That's buddies going on leave together. That's how it works!"
He's surprised Finn doesn't have more friends already, in the ground troops. He's wondered if Finn might move on, but he's glad he hasn't... even if him having more friends would probably be good.
He's surprised Finn doesn't have more friends already, in the ground troops. He's wondered if Finn might move on, but he's glad he hasn't... even if him having more friends would probably be good.
Part of it's shyness - he knows he's the Stormtrooper, everybody knows that, and it does set him apart no matter how much General Organa likes him. Or maybe it's that the General has singled him out, or that the story about Rey's rescue grew in the telling. Either way, the squad he's assigned to likes him well enough but he's found it tough to make friends outside that.
And it's not even that he's never had buddies before. His grin gets a little sheepish. "We had downtime, but we never really had leave. You know? So I don't know if that's how it works or not."
And it's not even that he's never had buddies before. His grin gets a little sheepish. "We had downtime, but we never really had leave. You know? So I don't know if that's how it works or not."
"Never had leave..." Well, of course if he steps back and thinks about it, that makes sense. But it's one of those things where he probably wouldn't have realized if Finn hadn't pointed it out, and he feels a little stupid for that.
He can't help it, he rests his hand on Finn's shoulder again. Tempting to hug him, but he's trying to be careful, respectful, all of that. He just got a big reminder that Finn hasn't exactly had a normal life; stuff Poe thinks is casual might not be for him. "Well. We'll just have to make your first real leave great when it rolls around."
He can't help it, he rests his hand on Finn's shoulder again. Tempting to hug him, but he's trying to be careful, respectful, all of that. He just got a big reminder that Finn hasn't exactly had a normal life; stuff Poe thinks is casual might not be for him. "Well. We'll just have to make your first real leave great when it rolls around."
"Nope." Too many uncontrollable factors. If they'd let Stormtroopers out of their direct control for longer than the course of a mission, there would have been reconditioning for everyone involved. And why recondition when they could just avoid the need in the first place?
So Poe's assurance that Finn would be welcome with his friends is welcome, and he doesn't seem to react to the moment of awkwardness there; he's in a very different life now, and it's far from the first difference he's seen. "I'll check on when that is." That protocol droid guy should be able to tell him; Finn had never met anyone so full of extraneous information, even given that he doesn't know many droids. "And hope your squad's off high alert before then. I can wait, if not."
So Poe's assurance that Finn would be welcome with his friends is welcome, and he doesn't seem to react to the moment of awkwardness there; he's in a very different life now, and it's far from the first difference he's seen. "I'll check on when that is." That protocol droid guy should be able to tell him; Finn had never met anyone so full of extraneous information, even given that he doesn't know many droids. "And hope your squad's off high alert before then. I can wait, if not."
"Yeah. Though that's all under the control of the First Order," Poe says, snorting. If the First Order stop being bastards, the hard-working pilots like himself can at least risk being off the line for 24 to 48 hours.
He could really use a break, if he's being honest. Going nonstop isn't so hard, but he's got a backlog of mental crap he just needs to sit down and sort through, and there's no breathing room for it. If they weren't on high alert he'd already have checked himself out for a mental health weekend; his parents had never been keen on talking about their troubles or war stories (he wonders now how many of those were one and the same) but they'd made sure he didn't have any mental baggage about needing to keep himself on an even keel. You keep going til you break, and it only hurts other people.
"And same for me," he promises. "If you're out on a mission, I can put off leave until you're back. Wouldn't be the same without you." Even though they've never gone on leave together, even though they're just friends, he already knows that's true.
He could really use a break, if he's being honest. Going nonstop isn't so hard, but he's got a backlog of mental crap he just needs to sit down and sort through, and there's no breathing room for it. If they weren't on high alert he'd already have checked himself out for a mental health weekend; his parents had never been keen on talking about their troubles or war stories (he wonders now how many of those were one and the same) but they'd made sure he didn't have any mental baggage about needing to keep himself on an even keel. You keep going til you break, and it only hurts other people.
"And same for me," he promises. "If you're out on a mission, I can put off leave until you're back. Wouldn't be the same without you." Even though they've never gone on leave together, even though they're just friends, he already knows that's true.
Finn looks very thoughtful for a moment. In fact, he's surprised they've been active enough to keep the pilots on their toes in the wake of Starkiller Base's destruction, and then it hits him. Of course. "Standard protocol. First thirty after a disaster all patrols increase and we're--they're--all on time and a half. Next thirty days they drop to normal, then three-quarters until the problem's resolved. It's all smoke and mirrors. They're not going to risk anything till they can recover."
"That so..." Poe says. Well, he'd sure like it to be so. "I think you better tell the General that. I'm surprised she didn't pick it out of your brain already." But considering how much General Organa probably had grilled out of Finn, he's sure things that aren't immediate threats got lost in the shuffle.
"Maybe we'll get some down time sooner than I thought. That'd be great."
"Maybe we'll get some down time sooner than I thought. That'd be great."
"I didn't think of it till now," Finn admits. Because he'd been too busy to really sit down and talk with Poe, so he didn't realize the pilots were on high alert. "I'll let her know first thing."
But instead of rushing off to tell the General, Finn gives his friend a grin. "If things do get too hot and I'm on a mission before then, you'll be my air support, won't you?" It's probably not going to happen, except for a training simulation, for the very reason he gave before. But the idea of Poe being his air support is one he could get behind; he's getting kind of used to having a real ace pilot backing him up.
But instead of rushing off to tell the General, Finn gives his friend a grin. "If things do get too hot and I'm on a mission before then, you'll be my air support, won't you?" It's probably not going to happen, except for a training simulation, for the very reason he gave before. But the idea of Poe being his air support is one he could get behind; he's getting kind of used to having a real ace pilot backing him up.
"Great." Hopefully that means Finn's also getting more used to dealing with General Organa. Not that Poe's ever become that blase about it, more that he hasn't had time lately to really contemplate the fact that he's working for her.
"There's nothing in the galaxy that would keep me away," he says. And he means it; he's disobeyed orders before and hasn't ever regretted a judgment he's made under that much pressure. Maybe he's just been lucky, but he'll keep trusting his instincts; they're the same ones that told him to trust Finn in the first place, after all. "Be like Takodana all over again."
"There's nothing in the galaxy that would keep me away," he says. And he means it; he's disobeyed orders before and hasn't ever regretted a judgment he's made under that much pressure. Maybe he's just been lucky, but he'll keep trusting his instincts; they're the same ones that told him to trust Finn in the first place, after all. "Be like Takodana all over again."
It's not that he isn't in awe of her, because there's still a part of him that wonders if this isn't all some kind of fever dream his brain had cooked up back on Jakku. But there's something about General Organa that puts him at ease - her charisma? She has that in spades. It's more that he feels like she can be trusted, something that's not based on her history or her presence or the respect everyone else trusts her with. Something deeper, like how he knew he could trust Poe and Rey. How he knew he could trust Solo, and how he knows Rey is fine even now.
So his grin widens and he reaches out to grab Poe's shoulder again. "You're a good man, Poe Dameron. And I got your back on the ground. You too, BB-8." Because droid or not, BB is his friend too.
So his grin widens and he reaches out to grab Poe's shoulder again. "You're a good man, Poe Dameron. And I got your back on the ground. You too, BB-8." Because droid or not, BB is his friend too.
Edited 2016-01-14 04:52 (UTC)
"I know, buddy." One of those things, he supposes. He's hoping to never get captured again, it was awful the first time around. But a second round would be slightly less horrible because he'd know Finn would be coming to get him out again.
He's really, really hoping to never test that though. Once was more than enough for a hundred lifetimes, even what had come out of it had been for the better for everyone.
Finn's got his shoulder; he's not really thinking too hard about it when he grabs Finn's opposite shoulder. Not quite a hug, but something like it. Damn, but Finn looks good, wearing that jacket again. It's not really Poe's any more, but he can't help think about it that way. And maybe he gets a little thrill from thinking about it sitting against Finn's skin, but he's keeping that to himself.
He gives Finn's shoulder a little shake and opens his mouth to say... something. He's not sure what, but it's probably going to be dumb. And it's probably for the best that an alert sound through the base at that moment, even if it makes him jump because it's the last place his mind could be. "Sounds like the band's playing our song," he says, glancing at BB-8. How's a droid manage to look that smug? And about what? "We better run."
He's really, really hoping to never test that though. Once was more than enough for a hundred lifetimes, even what had come out of it had been for the better for everyone.
Finn's got his shoulder; he's not really thinking too hard about it when he grabs Finn's opposite shoulder. Not quite a hug, but something like it. Damn, but Finn looks good, wearing that jacket again. It's not really Poe's any more, but he can't help think about it that way. And maybe he gets a little thrill from thinking about it sitting against Finn's skin, but he's keeping that to himself.
He gives Finn's shoulder a little shake and opens his mouth to say... something. He's not sure what, but it's probably going to be dumb. And it's probably for the best that an alert sound through the base at that moment, even if it makes him jump because it's the last place his mind could be. "Sounds like the band's playing our song," he says, glancing at BB-8. How's a droid manage to look that smug? And about what? "We better run."
If Finn has anything to say about it, none of his friends will ever be in that situation again - even if he is two for two on rescuing them now. Huh. Well, Rey had mostly rescued herself anyway, and all he did for Poe was get him to a ship and run guns. But if General Organa thinks that was enough (and she does; she'd said so several times), then that's good enough for him.
Naturally, the alarm goes off when he's finally getting to getting to spend some time with Poe. Naturally. So he nods and flashes one more rueful grin at Poe and BB-8. "I'll see you again when you get back, Black Leader." And he'll find time to give the General his opinion on the increased First Order activity. Yeah, they have to treat every alarm as a full-scale threat, but the sooner he can share his intel with her the sooner they can plan leave for the overworked pilots. Poe looks like he could use a break.
Naturally, the alarm goes off when he's finally getting to getting to spend some time with Poe. Naturally. So he nods and flashes one more rueful grin at Poe and BB-8. "I'll see you again when you get back, Black Leader." And he'll find time to give the General his opinion on the increased First Order activity. Yeah, they have to treat every alarm as a full-scale threat, but the sooner he can share his intel with her the sooner they can plan leave for the overworked pilots. Poe looks like he could use a break.
Stupid mouth still wants to say something. Poe knows its stupid and pulls his vaguely suave guy veto on it. So he just offers Finn a grin and gives his shoulder one more good squeeze before turning around and trotting off, BB-8 rolling along behind him.
He's still got a goofy grin on his face when he gets to the hangar. Doesn't even phase him that Kare and Jess start teasing him about it.
He's still got a goofy grin on his face when he gets to the hangar. Doesn't even phase him that Kare and Jess start teasing him about it.
It had been a long patrol, and turned out they had a reason to scramble; they'd found a squadron of TIE Fighters and a small cruiser they were escorting and taken the opportunity to do smash and run. Anything to weaken the First Order helped. They'd been overmatched in numbers, but Poe knew his people were good for it. The bad news was, he'd ended up with a piece of the cruiser lodged in his fuselage when the ship exploded--maybe he hadn't been getting enough sleep if he was making rookie mistakes like that.
The important part, though, was that they'd all returned, even if Black Leader's X-wing came limping in with its tail in a sling. Three days straight in the cockpit meant that Poe didn't smell so great, not that he noticed at this point, not until the fresh air hit him. He'd also managed to give himself a split lip and a black eye--not to mention a 5-point-harness dictated array of bruises--during the particular heck-up, but hey, that just added to a guy's charm, right?
First step: debriefing with the General. Second step: medical. Third step: he's trying to decide if he's hungry enough to forego basic courtesy and risk driving everyone else out of the mess hall with the scent of a man who's been marinating in a cockpit for that many hours.
The important part, though, was that they'd all returned, even if Black Leader's X-wing came limping in with its tail in a sling. Three days straight in the cockpit meant that Poe didn't smell so great, not that he noticed at this point, not until the fresh air hit him. He'd also managed to give himself a split lip and a black eye--not to mention a 5-point-harness dictated array of bruises--during the particular heck-up, but hey, that just added to a guy's charm, right?
First step: debriefing with the General. Second step: medical. Third step: he's trying to decide if he's hungry enough to forego basic courtesy and risk driving everyone else out of the mess hall with the scent of a man who's been marinating in a cockpit for that many hours.
Edited 2016-01-14 05:40 (UTC)
Luckily for Finn's peace of mind, the drill he was on had been called off when the X-Wings made their dramatic re-entry - he was far from the only one scrambling to know the outcome, and even seeing the familiar ship and familiar white-and-orange blob on top had only eased his mind until he saw the condition it was in.
He may or may not be waiting outside of medical, jumpy as hell and only slightly reassured by BB-8 (it works better when one can understand what the droid is saying, and just because he's finally starting to pick up a little doesn't mean Finn is anywhere near fluent). The pacing turns into a scramble as soon as he sees that familar form exit the medbay doors.
"Poe! Are you okay?"
(I told him you were fine!) BB-8 burbles. Finn doesn't seem to hear and rushes over to Poe, looking torn between wanting to grab him and not wanting to hurt him in case he's more beat up than he looks.
He may or may not be waiting outside of medical, jumpy as hell and only slightly reassured by BB-8 (it works better when one can understand what the droid is saying, and just because he's finally starting to pick up a little doesn't mean Finn is anywhere near fluent). The pacing turns into a scramble as soon as he sees that familar form exit the medbay doors.
"Poe! Are you okay?"
(I told him you were fine!) BB-8 burbles. Finn doesn't seem to hear and rushes over to Poe, looking torn between wanting to grab him and not wanting to hurt him in case he's more beat up than he looks.
"Finn!" Since he's getting a hug vibe off Finn anyway--and Poe's always been a huggy guy himself--he takes the opportunity and just goes for it. Not too different from the first time he saw Finn after Jakku, though mercifully this time he's down to just his jumpsuit so there isn't a life support control box bruising both their sternums. He hugs Finn hard enough to knock the wind out of himself and set the bruises on his chest aching, and he doesn't care.
It's nice to have someone--to have a friend, he reminds himself firmly--to come home to. It's different when they're not one of your pilots.
"Couldn't be better, other than I'm so hungry I could eat a rathtar with no salt. Might just eat you if you don't get me to the mess quick."
It's nice to have someone--to have a friend, he reminds himself firmly--to come home to. It's different when they're not one of your pilots.
"Couldn't be better, other than I'm so hungry I could eat a rathtar with no salt. Might just eat you if you don't get me to the mess quick."
Of course it's different! Poe's pilots get to be with him on the mission, and everyone back at base has to deal with remote reports. The General had called him in to observe when the dogfight started, and he'd foud it exciting in a very different way than being in the middle of the action. He's not sure it's to his taste, but it was exciting nonetheless.
He's so relieved at the hug that he hugs right back. It just feels good to be able to express that about someone he cares about, and besides, he sees other people doing it all the time so he's less self-conscious about it than he would be around the First Order, who rarely make any kind of physical contact at all.
Even if it does give him a front-row seat to cockpit smell. Well, it's not like Finn smelled any better after his escape from Jakku.
"Be surprised if they aren't cooking something special for you already. Come on." He releases the hug but grabs Poe's hand to tug him along to the mess hall. "We got your transmission of the fight, but how's your ship holding up?"
He's so relieved at the hug that he hugs right back. It just feels good to be able to express that about someone he cares about, and besides, he sees other people doing it all the time so he's less self-conscious about it than he would be around the First Order, who rarely make any kind of physical contact at all.
Even if it does give him a front-row seat to cockpit smell. Well, it's not like Finn smelled any better after his escape from Jakku.
"Be surprised if they aren't cooking something special for you already. Come on." He releases the hug but grabs Poe's hand to tug him along to the mess hall. "We got your transmission of the fight, but how's your ship holding up?"
Poe's maybe a little startled when Finn grabs his hand, but he rolls with it, and it's nice. Not overthinking this, just enjoying the fact that someone's happy he's home. And hasn't banished him to the showers first, because he's pretty sure he'll starve to death before he's even managed to unmangle his hair.
"If they are, they better be making plenty of it. The rest of my squadron's gotta be there already, sucking up all the food." Since none of them had to go to medical first. Good going, Poe. He grimaces. "My X-wing's going to need some serious time with the techs. I cracked the engine housing and shattered three of the fuel lines. That's why it took us so long to get back."
Since his squadron was full of stubborn people who hadn't been willing to go on ahead of him.
"They're either going to have to find me a spare bird, or I'm going to be grounded for a while. I think all the X-wings are assigned, but maybe they got an old A-wing hanging around. I could do something good with that."
"If they are, they better be making plenty of it. The rest of my squadron's gotta be there already, sucking up all the food." Since none of them had to go to medical first. Good going, Poe. He grimaces. "My X-wing's going to need some serious time with the techs. I cracked the engine housing and shattered three of the fuel lines. That's why it took us so long to get back."
Since his squadron was full of stubborn people who hadn't been willing to go on ahead of him.
"They're either going to have to find me a spare bird, or I'm going to be grounded for a while. I think all the X-wings are assigned, but maybe they got an old A-wing hanging around. I could do something good with that."
Finn laughs at the mental image of the squadron somehow managing to eat all the food. "You already got debriefed, right? So you can take as long as you want eating. Long enough for a fresh batch, I bet." Like virtually everyone else on base, Finn tended to shovel food into his mouth, but when he first realized that he could take his time as long as he was off duty--well, it still takes some getting used to.
He nods soberly as Poe discusses his ship. Finn remembers another ship lost on Jakku; even for their best pilot they can't just produce them out of thin air. "Which would you want? An old, uh, bird? Or to have some ground time?" If he were grounded, they could hang out some more, but it's obvious Poe would rather be in the air. That's just who he is.
He nods soberly as Poe discusses his ship. Finn remembers another ship lost on Jakku; even for their best pilot they can't just produce them out of thin air. "Which would you want? An old, uh, bird? Or to have some ground time?" If he were grounded, they could hang out some more, but it's obvious Poe would rather be in the air. That's just who he is.
"First thing," Poe says. "Before I went to medical." Since all he'd had were bruises, that hadn't been a rush. "True. Though I want to hit the showers and my bunk too." Showers before he passes out, hopefully. He's fallen asleep actually in the showers before, and that isn't something he wants to repeat.
It's a good question. Poe thinks about it; he's not going to wonder if there's something behind it. He knows Finn probably would like to have a friend around more often, so it makes sense. "Honestly? I'd like some down time. Probably need it. Just depends if they can spare me." If they need pilots more than anything else, he'd fly a bucket with wings on it if necessary.
It's a good question. Poe thinks about it; he's not going to wonder if there's something behind it. He knows Finn probably would like to have a friend around more often, so it makes sense. "Honestly? I'd like some down time. Probably need it. Just depends if they can spare me." If they need pilots more than anything else, he'd fly a bucket with wings on it if necessary.
Finn tactfully doesn't mention that showers would be an excellent idea, but Poe probably already knows that anyway. "I'll make sure you get there," he promises. If Poe's too tired to shower, well, there's always cold water.
Finn's expression lights up at that. Yeah, Poe's had a rough few weeks and hasn't had any downtime, and even if it's not real leave at least he won't have to be on high alert anymore. He squeezes Poe's hand. "You probably could use a break. Back up there as soon as your ship's fixed, but you look like a man who hasn't had enough sleep."
Finn's expression lights up at that. Yeah, Poe's had a rough few weeks and hasn't had any downtime, and even if it's not real leave at least he won't have to be on high alert anymore. He squeezes Poe's hand. "You probably could use a break. Back up there as soon as your ship's fixed, but you look like a man who hasn't had enough sleep."
"You're the best friend a guy could have," Poe says, laughing.
(Hey, what about me?) BB-8 chirps.
"You are too," Poe assures him. "When we're not talking about showers and bed."
He probably shouldn't be enjoying Finn hanging onto his hand this much. He does not care. Instead he gives Finn's hand a squeeze back. "I look that bad, huh? Guess I'd really better get some bunk time."
They get to the mess at that point. The rest of Black Squadron is already there. Poe notices Jess and Kare looking at them and nudging each other. He grinds, shrugs one shoulder. It's not like that; he's told them several times. But the squadrons really taken a shine to Finn anyway, which is all for the good.
(Hey, what about me?) BB-8 chirps.
"You are too," Poe assures him. "When we're not talking about showers and bed."
He probably shouldn't be enjoying Finn hanging onto his hand this much. He does not care. Instead he gives Finn's hand a squeeze back. "I look that bad, huh? Guess I'd really better get some bunk time."
They get to the mess at that point. The rest of Black Squadron is already there. Poe notices Jess and Kare looking at them and nudging each other. He grinds, shrugs one shoulder. It's not like that; he's told them several times. But the squadrons really taken a shine to Finn anyway, which is all for the good.
Edited 2016-01-14 21:37 (UTC)
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