Finn is quiet for a moment, clearly pondering what Poe says. Sometimes the right thing is the hard thing. Like leaving the only life he'd ever known? Walking across the desert instead of giving up? Going back to Starkiller Base? Staying to fight Kylo Ren? None of those were the easy choice, and every one of them was right.
"If everyone did what was easy," he says finally, "the First Order would have already won."
"That's what I figure." Poe takes another swig of his drink. "And my dad always told me, whatever you commit to, you do it with everything you've got. That's how he lives, too. So you commit to doing the right thing, you never stop. And that sure seems like what you've been doing."
"I think I'd like your dad." He sure likes Poe, and if he really did learn everything he knows (except flying) from his dad, it's the kind of morals that make Poe the hero he is. The kind of loyalty Poe has from his friends--his squadmates, even his droid--isn't the kind of thing that develops half-heartedly.
So Finn nods. "I want to. I want to do the right thing, Poe. Even when it means standing up to what scares me, because if I don't I'm no better than the Stormtrooper I used to be."
"I think you would, too," Poe says. His smiles fondly. "And I know he'd like you. He served with General Solo, you know? In his special forces unit. At the Battle of Endor and the six months after til he and my mom mustered out. Doesn't talk about it much, though."
He slips an arm around Finn's shoulders for a moment, a sort of side hug. "I know you will. You're your own man, Finn." Hopefully Finn doesn't mind the slightly sweaty nature of the hug. Whoops.
Not only does he not mind the hug, he visibly relaxes into it and even leans a little of his weight against Poe's. Being your own man isn't so bad when you have friends like Poe to help you out, he decides.
"Too bad he doesn't talk about it. I bet that's a damn good story." He can understand, though. Some things he doesn't mind talking about, like the rathtars and dumping Phasma in the trash compactor. Others, like--well, like basically anything involving Kylo Ren, he doesn't bring up; he'd only given a full debriefing to General Organa, and she'd already heard Rey and Chewbacca's part of the story. And because, of everyone, she deserved to know.
Finn leaning against him is... nice. Really nice. Doesn't mean anything by it, he reminds himself. The guy hasn't had nearly enough hugs in his life. So he hangs on to Finn a little longer. Hopefully not long enough to be weird.
"I heard some stories from guys he served with. He'd tell me about General Solo or the people he worked with, but he doesn't like talking about himself."
It is most certainly not weird. He trusts Poe, and part of that is feeling comfortable with him. Hell, if he wasn't comfortable with Poe he never would have wanted to come on this trip in the first place, so he exhales contentedly.
"Probably doesn't want to sound like he's bragging." That was one of the many rumors about pilots he'd picked up in the barracks--that they liked to brag--but as far as Finn could tell, Poe earned every damn thing he said. "Maybe he'll visit the base some time and I'll hear for myself."
"I think that's some of it," he says. "It's always easier to talk about good things someone else has done. But I think they both... didn't want to make it seem romantic. Or glorious." And he's long since learned better, though being a pilot means he spends a lot of time on an adrenalin high. That just can't be why he does things.
"If we go to Yavin again when he's actually there, I'll take you by the ranch and you can meet him."
Yeah, he can feel content with this and just not try to make it more than it is. It's nice to have someone to lean on. He can't get like this with his squad; problem with being an officer. But this is okay, and Finn's touched his life in a way no one else ever has.
Finn nods, thinking about it. The First Order had done their best to glorify war, of course; it had been difficult for him to think of it any other way until his fateful first battle, and then he'd done everything to get as far away as he could. Poe had had the chance to choose this life long ago - he could easily get a job flying a freighter or an in-systems shuttle or anything, but here they are.
"I'd like to meet him, Poe." Maybe not tell him about the Stormtrooper part, unless it's followed immediately by who switched sides and rescued your son. "Will he back by the time we're on the return trip?" If not, Yavin's demonstrably not far from the base; maybe they can visit again some time.
Why does the thought of introducing Finn to his dad warm him so much? Well, because he knows dad will like Finn, and probably about adopt him on the spot, and that would be pretty good for Finn too.
It's just the teasing he'll no doubt get from his father that's making him cringe a little. Kes Dameron had an instinct for smelling out trouble and making it worse that almost put general Solo's legend to shame.
"I'll send him a message when we're getting ready to head back. He was vague about his dates." He laughs. "He usually is."
He's just imagining what around the ranch he'd show Finn. Well, everything. Starting with the shed where mom's old A-Wing still lived.
Given the generalized lack of paternal role models--Solo had been like that, briefly, but more for Rey than for him--it probably would be good for Finn. Not to mention the general curiosity about Poe in general that he's barely scratched the surface of. What could it have been like to grow up in the shadow of the war, with both parents involved? It had certainly turned Poe into the man he is, and Finn can't complain about that.
"Yeah. And if he doesn't get back to you, we'll just have to spend more time on the beach." The medics had said laying around and relaxing in the sun would be great for his back, even if they were smiling about it and exchanging some amused looks. What, like he didn't know they'd be jealous of getting to see Poe Dameron in a swimsuit?
"What a trial," Poe says, laughing. He gives Finn a gentle shake 27th the arm around his shoulders.
... He should probably let go sometime soon. But... Well.
He'd kind of guessed Finn didn't have a bathing suit. Which is fair, because, "I have to get one too, so no problem. Haven't hit the beach in years, that's why I thought it'd be so much fun. So we can help each other out."
Finn sure doesn't mind. It's comfortable sitting like this, leaning against Poe. And he is supposed to be relaxing on this trip, isn't he?
"Good, because I don't even know where to start. You really are okay with babysitting me the whole time, huh?" Yes, Poe hasn't got sick of him yet and Finn knows he asks a lot of questions, but--except for Rey, there isn't anyone he'd rather spend time with, and he's pretty sure Rey and Poe would get along.
"We'll figure it out." Buying stuff is generally easy, and there should be plenty of shops on Spira just for guys in their situation. He tightens his arm around Finn's shoulders a little too pull him in closer, rest their heads against each other for a second. "Not babysitting, Finn. Taking you somewhere and having fun. Nowhere I'd rather be."
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"If everyone did what was easy," he says finally, "the First Order would have already won."
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So Finn nods. "I want to. I want to do the right thing, Poe. Even when it means standing up to what scares me, because if I don't I'm no better than the Stormtrooper I used to be."
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He slips an arm around Finn's shoulders for a moment, a sort of side hug. "I know you will. You're your own man, Finn." Hopefully Finn doesn't mind the slightly sweaty nature of the hug. Whoops.
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"Too bad he doesn't talk about it. I bet that's a damn good story." He can understand, though. Some things he doesn't mind talking about, like the rathtars and dumping Phasma in the trash compactor. Others, like--well, like basically anything involving Kylo Ren, he doesn't bring up; he'd only given a full debriefing to General Organa, and she'd already heard Rey and Chewbacca's part of the story. And because, of everyone, she deserved to know.
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"I heard some stories from guys he served with. He'd tell me about General Solo or the people he worked with, but he doesn't like talking about himself."
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"Probably doesn't want to sound like he's bragging." That was one of the many rumors about pilots he'd picked up in the barracks--that they liked to brag--but as far as Finn could tell, Poe earned every damn thing he said. "Maybe he'll visit the base some time and I'll hear for myself."
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"If we go to Yavin again when he's actually there, I'll take you by the ranch and you can meet him."
Yeah, he can feel content with this and just not try to make it more than it is. It's nice to have someone to lean on. He can't get like this with his squad; problem with being an officer. But this is okay, and Finn's touched his life in a way no one else ever has.
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"I'd like to meet him, Poe." Maybe not tell him about the Stormtrooper part, unless it's followed immediately by who switched sides and rescued your son. "Will he back by the time we're on the return trip?" If not, Yavin's demonstrably not far from the base; maybe they can visit again some time.
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It's just the teasing he'll no doubt get from his father that's making him cringe a little. Kes Dameron had an instinct for smelling out trouble and making it worse that almost put general Solo's legend to shame.
"I'll send him a message when we're getting ready to head back. He was vague about his dates." He laughs. "He usually is."
He's just imagining what around the ranch he'd show Finn. Well, everything. Starting with the shed where mom's old A-Wing still lived.
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"Yeah. And if he doesn't get back to you, we'll just have to spend more time on the beach." The medics had said laying around and relaxing in the sun would be great for his back, even if they were smiling about it and exchanging some amused looks. What, like he didn't know they'd be jealous of getting to see Poe Dameron in a swimsuit?
"You gonna help me pick out a swimsuit?"
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... He should probably let go sometime soon. But... Well.
He'd kind of guessed Finn didn't have a bathing suit. Which is fair, because, "I have to get one too, so no problem. Haven't hit the beach in years, that's why I thought it'd be so much fun. So we can help each other out."
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"Good, because I don't even know where to start. You really are okay with babysitting me the whole time, huh?" Yes, Poe hasn't got sick of him yet and Finn knows he asks a lot of questions, but--except for Rey, there isn't anyone he'd rather spend time with, and he's pretty sure Rey and Poe would get along.
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